《So Far Away》


 Chapter 1

    Scarlet POV


    I looked outside for the hundredth time but all I could see was an empty road with no vehicles approaching apart from the cars already parked nearby. Even though it had been a few minutes since our arrival, I couldn''t settle for the fact he wouldn''t be here. Was it all an illusion after all? Was I deceived by his handsome features? I don''t know and there isn''t a way that I could even figure it out as well.


    "Hey, Scarlet! Who are you looking for?!" my sister, Abigail, shouted from behind me.


    I blushed, a bit of embarrassment washing over me.


    "No one. Why do you ask?" I replied I didn''t look her in the eyes because my expression would betray me at any second.


    "Oh really?" she said.


    How am I supposed to do that? I don''t know, but I was able to get the courage to speak up. Trying my best not to be exposed.


    "Like I said, I''m not waiting for anyone. Why are you bothering me?" I asked not wanting to carry on the conversation any further.


    "Because mom wants you downstairs to say our prayers, not up here waiting for some boy," she said, cracking up.


    I sighed, feeling she''s quite right regardless of her intentions. She wasn''t being rude, she just was being honest. So, I can''t blame her for that.


    "Who said I''m waiting on a guy?" My cheeks grew red, and I looked away from being disclosed.


    "Well, you''ve been looking out that window for the past thirty minutes, so that tells me there''s something going on."


    "Oh, you can say that," I replied.


    "Well yes I can, and I can be sure about that as well. He isn''t coming back, so stop waiting for him," she said.


    It was quite painful to hear those words. I wished he was here, but if he isn''t going to be here, then I can''t help that at all.


    "Seriously, why can''t you focus on something else?" she said looking off into the distance.


    "I just can''t....understand, why wouldn''t he be here?"


    "I''m not sure of that," she said.


    i contemplated about it for a moment and replied.


    "Well, he said he would show up."


    My sister rolled her eyes.


    "Wake up! He doesn''t want to be here. Sister, trust me when I say he doesn''t have any interest in you. So you have to stop thinking about him."


    Those words crashed into my heart like no other ever could but I didn''t show it. If I did, I would be in tears. I don''t want to mess up because some guy didn''t appear. But I believe God has better plans for me, maybe he doesn''t want me to find my way in him, all that means is that I have to find my way to another.


    But soon, there was this awkward silence between me and Abigail. I then saw our mom coming. But luckily Abigail didn''t bring up the topic around her.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    But if she did, that would be my end, because mom doesn''t like me to have any boyfriends. Oh God, did I just say boyfriend? I did, sorry but that''s some bitter truth about mom. She doesn''t like us to have a relationship at this age, well sixteen isn''t bad, but mom says it is. She likes to keep it traditional.


    We went to say our prayers before waiting on our dad. He was a little late in picking us up, but that was okay. We didn''t complain. We didn''t get home late; it was only 9 pm when we got back to our house.


    I changed into pajamas before calling Mazie, my black Pitbull to my side. It was time for her bath. I took her into the bathroom, bathed her, and got her dry before putting some clean sheets on my bed. By the time I was finished, Mazie was lying on her side of the bed, already asleep.


    What a lazy lass. I thought to myself, shaking my head with a faint smile.


    I got into bed beside her and I logged into Wattpad from my phone, seeing I had lots of notifications. I started to respond to them. But what got my attention was my newest follower. My hope of reaching two hundred followers would become true soon. I squealed in excitement as it washed over me. But before everything, I''ll have to thank the person.


    And yikes guess what? It''s a boy, and his name is Pathum. He''s a cutie. he had black silky looking hair and ethereal facial features common to people in Asia


    I started to get butterflies in my stomach for some reason. Well why should I call it odd when he''s so attractive? Lord forgive me but he''s stunning and I get the feeling that he gives me a tough choice between him and my crush at church. So is this how the Lord aids us?


    First, he tormented me for hours waiting for John, who never arrived anyway. He was my crush for the past few months. Even though I was expecting him every week, he became absent.


    I marvel at the thought that he might know my feelings for him. But now who needs him when I have a cute boy following me? Well, I don''t know him yet but I get the feeling that he could become a good friend.


    Lost in my thoughts, I hear a few knocks on my door. A minute later, someone opened it and stepped into the room but I was still focused on my phone. To my surprise, it was my sister who came near me and snapped at me playfully. I think I got caught because she saw my expression.


    "What are you thinking?" she asked, sitting on my bed and patting Mazie on the back.


    "Nothing," I replied quickly. I didn''t want to talk, but she gave me a look that said, really dude? I sighed. "Well I was just thinking about-"


    "John," she sneered before I even finished.


    She was half right and half wrong because I wasn''t just thinking about him.


    "Yeah, kind of, " I said.


    She smiled or more like smirked. I hated that look she gave me. I don''t despise my sister but I scorn her attitude. It was always Abigail. She was the favorite of almost everyone. She was the flawless, perfect girl while I was just the troubled kid. I was treated like grass, lovely to watch but easy to trample. Does every sibling go through these stages?


    "You should stop thinking about him. I don''t think John''s into you," she said.


    I knew that but my heart didn''t want to accept that. Sometimes you have to listen to your mind regardless of what your heart desires.


    "I know," I said, tears slowly building up. But I refused to let them fall. Not in front of my sister, i don''t want to be the weak link in our family


    "You better," she said and turned away to walk out of the room.


    Why are you acting like this? I wanted to ask her. But my tongue didn''t respond. I watched as she walked out forgetting to close the door. I sighed before getting up and closing it myself.


    But not a second later it was opened again, this time by my mother.


    "Hey. Are you asleep?" She leaned on the wall and asked.


    "Not yet, but I''m about to be."


    "Okay. But is everything alright?" she asked me.


    Wouldn''t it be better if I could be honest? Oh, well, it doesn''t matter anyway. She wouldn''t care. Or more like she couldn''t do anything about it. So I settled for a lie.


    "Yeah, I''m good!"


    "Ok. Goodnight, dear," she said kindly.


    "Good night, Mom," I replied before lying back and closing my eyes.


    Tears cascaded wetting my pillow. Darkness engulfed me as I lay there in silence before kissing Mazie on the head. She was snoring, which made me laugh.


    I tasted the salty tang of my tears on my lips but ignored it. There''s no room for pity. My thoughts were directed to the Wattpad app once again as I glanced at the profile of my new follower. He looks Asian, his name matches with it. I cannot separate the happiness at the sight of him. I felt the need to text him but decided to do that in the morning


    i fell asleep, a smile on my face, having no idea of what the next day would bring.

 Chapter 2

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    It was me and my blank mind. Well, actually, that¡¯s a lie. When was the last time I had nothing to think about?


    Never.


    I shivered, covering my bare legs with my bedsheets. It¡¯s freezing, and I can¡¯t go to school. However, it¡¯s been a week since the last time I¡¯ve attended classes, so I¡¯ll have to go today. But how can I get out of this nice, warm bed when I feel like my limbs will succumb to frostbite if I leave?


    My mom came into the room, tapping me on the shoulder. At the slight touch, I groaned in displeasure before opening my eyes. She was looking at me pointedly. So that meant I had to get up.


    She then left the room, so I stayed in bed where I was until she returned. She was carrying a cup of warm tea and a plate of some biscuits. Reluctantly, I sat up and took the teacup from her to drink the tea and ate a few of the biscuits.


    Soon, I finished the tea, so I laid back down again and covered myself with the blankets. I was so tired, about to fall back asleep when she yelled at me.


    ¡°Pathum, get up or you¡¯ll be late for school!¡±


    Grumbling to myself, I finally got up, not even bothering to check my phone. It didn¡¯t matter. No one would text me anyway. I then went to bathe and finished getting ready before telling my mom and grandma goodbye and going on my way.


    There had been a time where I liked school and friends, but I recently joined a new school to achieve my A/Level, and I can¡¯t stand the students. Well, I don¡¯t actually hate everyone, but it¡¯s difficult for me to be around any of them. It wasn¡¯t like how I had spent my O/Level.


    Back in those days, I had friends that I loved being with, but now I¡¯m at a different school, I don¡¯t like all the new people. In order to be their friend I had to adapt into their culture and I wasn''t going to do that, and thus a debacle began. In simple terms I was suffocating.


    As I made my way through the school to my classroom, I was greeted with mocking remarks. I pretended not to hear them as I rolled my eyes. This is exactly what I was expecting from them since I stayed home for a week.


    But suddenly of them saw me and came to me, an arrogant smirk on his face.


    ¡°Wow, long time, no see. What brings you here?¡±


    Another boy walked up, a smirk also on his face. When he spoke, his tone was cruel.


    ¡°Why, good morning Mr. Pathum, you¡¯re here. Wow, what a wonder.¡±


    A few more voices and the morning prayers followed.


    ¡°Oh, Pathum, we missed you man. I wondered why it looked like it was going to rain today.¡±


    Other comments followed which I didn¡¯t pay much attention to. My classmates were laughing at me as if I¡¯m a comedian. That¡¯s why I hate being with those guys. It makes me wish I had my childhood friends with me instead. Actually I¡¯m overreacting, I don¡¯t need to hate anyone. Just let them have their fun and let me focus on my studies.


    But by the end of the day, they¡¯re left with frivolity and I¡¯ll have a good job.


    However, I¡¯m guessing you wondered why I stayed home for a week?


    Well, it wasn¡¯t because it was cold or because of laziness. It was all because of these people in this school who called themselves my friends. I didn¡¯t want to see them, but I had to spend the next few hours with them, doing nothing but letting them mock me before coming back tomorrow and repeating the cycle.


    I just smiled politely before looking away because what else am I supposed to do?


    I have my big exam at the end of this month so I¡¯ll have to study, or I won¡¯t succeed. My studies are a bit tough. Or maybe I¡¯m not giving them my all or I have a low IQ. Although, I doubt that last one anyway.


    The first period was Physics and the teacher did express some amusement at my presence. All I could do was reluctantly nod, then came Biology and next, interval. I didn''t get the chance to talk with anyone. But no one wanted to talk to me except for making mocking remarks.


    And like always I didn''t get the chance to eat as well. Why didn¡¯t I, you ask?


    Because we bring a single rice packet to unpack and place in the middle of the lunch table. When the food gets emptied, someone else puts the packet into their lunchbox.


    I grimace in disgust; I don¡¯t touch it with my hands while being surrounded by people. I¡¯ve never liked it. Maybe because I¡¯m socially awkward or maybe that¡¯s the truth. But I can''t eat alone. I¡¯d be the number one bullying victim if I chose to do that.


    So I ate with them, making sure I only touched the part of the packet that was untouched. I couldn''t eat more even if I was greedy. Every time I bring my hand close to my mouth, I remember someone¡¯s saliva must have been in that.


    I just want to stay away from these people.


    I¡¯m sorry I don''t think my classmates are bad, I just think I don''t fit in with their culture. In order to be friends with the guys, you have to adapt to them. Which for me, would never happen. It¡¯s like every time you go to the washroom, you aren¡¯t allowed to wash your hands. How can I break free from something I did for decades and get accustomed to something else?


    Well, it¡¯s not that difficult, eventually with time I would get adapted to that culture but God I never want to be like my friends. They¡¯re boys who walk the wrong path in life. I¡¯m not claiming to be perfect either but I¡¯m not like them.


    Regarding my friends, I think they¡¯re not that bad. How many times am I going to mention that? Mind, you must let me be free. Despite the fact that they occasionally make me the center of their jokes, they leave me alone for the majority of the time.


    After lunch, it was time for Chemistry and fortunately, the Chemistry teacher didn¡¯t mock me. However, he did make some jokes which we all thought were funny, including me. The only difference was I wasn¡¯t the victim.


    Soon, it was five minutes before the final school bell, and a student from another class ran into the room. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to him just as he opened his mouth to scream, ¡°WE WON¡¯T BE HAVING EXAMS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL WILL BE ON HOLIDAY!¡±


    I smiled in excitement. There was no sweeter thing for me than hearing that I won¡¯t need to come to school for another month and to hear the term tests are postponed. I heard the reason for this sudden decision is because we¡¯re having a thing called lockdown. I have no idea what that is but I love it already.


    ¡°Hey Pathum, you shouldn''t have come today,¡± my classmate who was behind me said with a smirk.


    I glared at him, my dark eyes narrowed, all the while my thoughts spewing insults.


    Thanks, bitch. Excuse my language, but that loser must mind his own business.


    Then I heard someone else say something about a coronavirus spreading in China and other countries. And we already have a case. Oh, so that¡¯s why we were given this sudden holiday.


    Thank God I can stay home now. I thought as the bell rang.


    Everyone was leaving while talking about this coronavirus, but there was one big guy standing in front of us. I frowned when I heard what came out of his mouth.


    ¡°Hey guys, don¡¯t watch Chinese content, or you¡¯ll get corona.¡±


    The entire class erupted into laughter that swept through the classroom. But I didn¡¯t laugh. Because for God¡¯s sake that¡¯s not funny. It¡¯s very offensive.


    Then a guy said to me, ¡°Hey, Pathum, you don¡¯t have to be worried about watching content.¡±


    I heard him, but I didn¡¯t reply to the boy because there¡¯s no point arguing with these people. They¡¯re too stupid and immature to be reasoned with. That was a fact I had learned a long time ago.


    Another boy cleared his throat, a mocking smile on his face. When he spoke, it was in a loud but snide voice.


    ¡°Pathum doesn¡¯t watch it because he¡¯s gay, and therefore, incapable of enjoying the content.¡±


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    I rolled my eyes at that comment. I don''t watch it because I don''t want to. If I did, I¡¯d be a loser like them. And just because I don¡¯t watch such content doesn¡¯t make me gay. But even if I am, so what? I¡¯m not going to be watching that crap like they do.


    I stand by what I am, so that¡¯s enough of that.


    Unfortunately I can only argue within my mind, so I became numb when it came to speaking with friends. I hated that feeling when I wanted to say things, but I couldn''t deliver them properly. I just stutter, and I hate myself for it.


    But why would I want to hurt myself over what some intolerant shitty people do?


    It was so loud from everyone¡¯s cheering about the holiday and postponed exams, I had to cover my ears. But I am cheering deep inside me. I just didn''t make a fool of myself in front of my classmates. The final bell rang and everyone sang the anthem as we were walking to the bus halt.


    I wasn''t alone. There were two other boys so it was triplets where two guys were mean to each other and the remaining one was a boring little dwarf.


    They were towering over me, and I wished I was average height so that I wouldn''t look like a dwarf, but wishes never come true.


    Okay so then why would I think? Because I¡¯m tired of looking up at them. I was a foot shorter than them and if I was another foot shorter then I¡¯d be a definite dwarf. Another thing I hated was coming into contact with their armpits. Since my body was only to their shoulder level, it was a problem. We were travelling on the bus, and collisions happen when it¡¯s crowded.


    Imagine that disgusting sweat getting in contact with your hands or lips. I mean an accident could happen and what if such a thing happened or I unintentionally lick my hand after coming into contact with dirt? I became numb just contemplating those thoughts.


    I didn''t pay attention to what they were saying because I was waiting until a bus arrived so that I could go home. And most importantly get rid of people I don''t like. Even though I was determined not to pay attention to them, my mind did the opposite of what should have been done.


    They were talking about people and their lifestyles when I glanced at them. I was contemplating on what I should say to join their conversation. Eventually I sneaked into their conversation. For a moment I thought I could try to tell some jokes. We cracked and it went well until my former best friend decided to say something.


    ¡°So, you know he doesn''t have to bother about data. He has a whole Wi-Fi network and he¡¯s super rich. So, he can buy any game he wants, right Kamal?¡± I asked staring at him.


    His smile widened as he started to nod his head. But it wasn''t because he agreed with me.


    ¡°Not really Pathum.¡±


    I felt like someone just stripped my clothes off in the middle of the road as Kamal and the other boy cracked up and shared a high five. I was there surrounded by people and laughter. To add more salt to my wound, Kamal glanced at me.


    ¡°Oh, man, you roasted him, Kamal!¡± The other guy covered his mouth, unable to control his laughter.


    That was a mistake, I shouldn¡¯t have joined them. I don''t belong here. I never have. Shit that was so embarrassing.


    I remained silent the whole time that we were on the bus. Everyone was stacked on top of each other. I couldn¡¯t find a seat. The putrid scent of body odour filled my nostrils and I recoiled. It¡¯s unpleasant coming into contact with another person¡¯s sweat and then dealing with their fury when you trample on their clothes. Thankfully, it only took an hour to get home. But an hour with sweat and contact means an hour of hell.


    I wish I could teleport.


    After I entered my house, I sat down at my bedside table and wrote a post about my school¡¯s lockdown and the holiday. I had initially told my Wattpad followers I was taking a break due to the exam, but since there¡¯s not one, I can get back to it.


    I have no idea when the lockdown will be over but it¡¯ll mean no school for a while. After I finished my announcement, I went to bathe before settling down to watch some anime.


    Hours later, when I looked at my phone next, I saw a notification from someone I recently followed that said, ¡°Thank you for the follow.¡±


    I clicked onto Wattpad, and saw the person who posted on my message board. It¡¯s a beautiful blonde-haired girl. I furrowed my eyebrow. It was strange for someone like her to text me. But what got my attention was the two heart emojis she sent me.


    So, I responded back with, a ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± and made sure there were three hearts. After that, I put my phone aside before getting up to have dinner. But after a while, the device beeped with another notification.


    This time, she posted a message with four hearts! It was interesting, but I didn¡¯t want to respond back with five. I thought about talking to her. She seems nice.


    But what should I talk to her about? The weather, or about where she lives? Ugh, I don¡¯t know.


    I spent five minutes thinking about questions I could ask her and that¡¯s when I got the idea for a read for read. So, I typed in the Conversations tab, ¡°Would you do a read for read?¡±


    She replied back with; ¡°Sure! Which book of yours should I read?¡±


    ¡°Well, I have one book¡­¡± I told her.


    I felt bad at the way I talked, but I didn''t mean to offend her. I felt I should¡¯ve said it in a better way. However, it isn''t the first time I regretted saying something.


    Then I looked at her profile, and saw that she had published a few books. I browsed through them before choosing the book, ¡°Unexpected Love¡±.


    It seemed like interesting, so I opened it to the first chapter and began reading. As I read, I noticed there were some punctuation errors, but as far as my knowledge goes, her story seemed intriguing.


    I voted after finishing the chapter and was about to add another comment on her Message Board. But before I could, I received a message in my Inbox. I went over to look at it and smiled. It was from her! I was over the moon because I wanted to talk to her but she did me a favour by messaging me first.


    Scarlet: ¡°I read your prologue. It¡¯s amazing, hunny.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°OMG you texted me, and thank you. I read yours too. It¡¯s such a beautiful story.¡±


    It was as beautiful as her, but there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to type that. She would probably get the wrong idea. But I don''t know if I should add the term honey, but what does it mean? I Googled it and it was about something with sugar, then I noticed there is a ¡®u¡® instead of an ¡®o¡®. Why can¡¯t I solve the issue by asking her what it means? That wasn¡¯t like me anyway.


    Then, I got another message from her.


    Scarlet: ¡°Thank you for voting!¡±


    Pathum: ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Oh, sweetie that was a nice comment. Thanks a lot. All you asked for was a read for read. This is so much more.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°You''re welcome. I usually comment on books I read and your book got my attention since the first chapter. I''m looking forward to reading more and leaving comments.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°That¡¯s great, hunny, thank you indeed.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I¡¯m pleased to have helped you. Where are you from?¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°I¡¯m from Louisiana. What about you?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°I¡¯m from Sri Lanka.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Sri Lanka?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Yeah!¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Oh! Sp, you¡¯re close to India, right?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°We¡¯re a separate nationality but we do look like people from Southern India.


    Scarlet: ¡°Oh, okay. That¡¯s fascinating. So what are you up to?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Oh, nothing. Just talking to you.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Aww, that¡¯s so sweet!¡±


    Pathum:  ¡°Oh, haha!¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°What¡¯s with your haha?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I offended you!¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Oh, sweetie, you don¡¯t need to apologize. I was just smiling at your response.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Aww, ok!¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°So I think we should introduce ourselves. What do you think?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea. Who should go first?¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Me!¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°I¡¯m Scarlet Baker, I¡¯m 16, and I¡¯m from New Orleans, Louisiana. I graduate from high school next year. I have one older sister and we live in the countryside.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Nice to meet you, Scarlet. I¡¯m Pathum Nisansala, and like I said, I¡¯m from Sri Lanka. I¡¯m doing advanced level studying for Biological Science. I¡¯m eighteen and in my final years of school.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Wow! Nice.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    Scarlet:  ¡°Okay. Moving on, do you love writing?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Yes. How did you know that?¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°I¡¯m a witch!¡±


    Pathum: ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    After that last comment, I didn¡¯t get a response from her, so I don¡¯t know whether I annoyed her or not. I hope I hadn¡¯t; it was nice talking to her. She was so sweet. No girl has ever been like that to me.


    Oh, well, I guess I should¡¯ve changed the subject by asking questions about her interests. But now she¡¯s gone so I¡¯ll have to wait until she returns.


    I look out the window and see that it¡¯s dark, it¡¯s almost midnight. I yawn, suddenly feeling fatigue hit me. I¡¯m not sure how much longer I¡¯ll be able to stay awake.


    I then checked out her profile and saw that she had a book on face reveals. I opened it up and there she was; a beautiful soul. I don¡¯t know  why but for some reason she looks innocent. I mean how can I not tell she isn¡¯t when she talked to me?


    No girl has ever been interested to ask me about anything. But she was keen to have a conversation with me. And she said some sweet things, which is something no other girl ever has done. I knew she wasn''t flirting because she doesn¡¯t look like that type of girl. But whatever she is, she¡¯s beautiful.


    Well, there¡¯s hundreds of girls who have fallen in love with me, but I¡¯m not talking about them.


    I get a smile on my face at my thoughts. Isn¡¯t it funny when you crack up at your own jokes, or is it sad? Oh well, it doesn''t matter anyway.


    I put my phone down and get into bed.


    For the first time in a while, I¡¯m in a good mood before I fall asleep. The reason behind my happiness is the realization of bringing in a friend to my life. I hope she¡¯ll stay longer than most did.


    And hopefully, one day, after we¡¯ve known each other for a while, we¡¯ll meet in person¡­.. gosh, I shouldn''t go THAT far. She might not remember me by morning¡­¡­.

 Chapter 3

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    I look away from my phone, bewilderment coming across my face.


    Wow, this guy is from Sri Lanka, a country in the Indian Ocean.


    I shook my head, amused. My Geography knowledge is off the charts. I should do some research to expand my comprehension of this country since I have a friend from that side of the world.


    So, I used my phone to put up Google search Sri Lanka, and I found some maps that showcased a teardrop-shaped country off the coast of India. I guess that¡¯s why they¡¯re known as the ¡°Pearl¡± of the Indian Ocean. I scrolled through the pictures and saw what it looked like over there.


    It¡¯s such a beautiful country. I thought, mesmerized by the lush greenery of the Sri Lankan landscape.


    It was also nice of him to leave such detailed comments in my book. I¡¯ve never had anyone comment on it in such a fascinating way. I could read his comments many times and never get bored. He¡¯s either good at commenting or maybe my book is good. I should say something nice about myself, but where¡¯s the point in it?


    If I¡¯m only to blame myself then it¡¯ll always be a blaming game. Maybe I¡¯m good at writing, but I shouldn''t be flattered by a single comment. However, at the end of the day, that comment makes more sense than disregarding my achievements.


    Pathum seems like a nice guy, but I shouldn''t jump into conclusions. I just met him and it hasn''t been a long conversation. But I can assume that out of the many I had met online he has a special place in my heart. So I can assume that he¡¯s a good guy. He behaves better than most guys I meet.


    I then got up to do my chores before logging into Wattpad, and there he was. I got hearts in my eyes at the sight of him; he¡¯s so cute. He also has more followers than me. I wish I had that many.


    Maybe one day I¡¯ll get there. I wonder what it''s like? Something good I believe. Does that mean he¡¯s surrounded by many friends? I don¡¯t know that, maybe he is or maybe he isn¡¯t. But that don''t matter at all, what matters is staying true to yourself.


    Soon, Mom, Abigail, and I then sat down for lunch, and Abigail turned to me.


    ¡°Hey, did you dream about him last night?¡± she asked, shaking my hand.


    Unfortunately I was so lost in my daydreaming, I didn¡¯t feel it until she shook me strongly. I looked at her wide-eyed and confused.


    I have a sister who¡¯s very concerned about my happiness, but tries her best to take it away. Maybe she¡¯d like to know the reason behind my happiness, but I cannot say it. Who knows whether he dislikes me or not? He was initially sweet but that doesn''t mean he likes me. Well that was too much to think about but it is what it is. I just met him, so I know nothing of him yet.


    Snapping out of my thoughts, my green eyes met Abigail¡¯s. I saw concern or rather jealousy there. I furrowed my brow at her, trying to figure out what she was thinking.


    Abigail is always worried about me when I¡¯m in a good mood but never when I¡¯m in a bad one. Does every sibling act like this, or is it that my sister¡¯s different? I hope this is normal behavior fpr siblings because I wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the bitter truth of my sister disliking me.


    I know for a fact she isn¡¯t a bad person but she acts mean whenever someone pays attention to me. Can I not have a life?


    Anyway, I decided to distract them.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy to be alive, sister! We shouldn''t take this for granted. God has given us a chance to be alive and we must cherish that rather than wasting our time arguing over useless things.¡± Plastering a smile on my face, I tried to divert the conversation before Mom interrupted us to make sure we were talking about the family, not just me.


    ¡°She¡¯s right Abigail. Have you not seen the news? The coronavirus has been spreading all over Europe and has been freaking people out. Of course, there have been so many deaths in China.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Abigail and I asked at the same time.


    Mom rolled her eyes at our confused reactions before repeating herself.


    ¡°The coronavirus is the reason for the lockdown. Everyone¡¯s talking about it. It¡¯s been killing people and spreading fast so we have to be careful.¡± As she talked, we saw the concern that was etched across her face.


    I stood up, determination crossing my features.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have to worry about this virus, Mom. God will protect us,¡± I said. I believed that with all my heart.


    ¡°True!¡± Abigail agreed, smiling at me.


    Mom smiled, hearing us agree on something for the first time in a while.


    ¡°Correct. If we do as our healthcare providers tell us to do, we¡¯ll all be well.¡±


    We both nodded, knowing that¡¯s true. If we listen to people who know how to take care of the virus and have faith in God. Everything shall fall under His grace.


    Abigail then shook her head before directing Mom¡¯s attention to me, her eyes on me.


    ¡°Mom, there''s something wrong with Scarlet. She¡¯s too happy,¡± she said, trying to get back into the conversation she initially began.


    Mom¡¯s expression fell before she snickered.


    ¡°John wasn''t at church last night. How could you be happy this morning?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Why does John have to be the only reason for my happiness? Why can¡¯t it be someone else?¡± I asked, blushing.


    Mom looked around, trying to act like there¡¯s someone hiding in the room, eavesdropping on our conversation. She then looked at me, her amused gaze focused.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not John, then who is it then?¡± She lowered her voice.


    I giggled, trying not to laugh at her silly behavior.


    ¡°Oh, stop it mom.¡±


    ¡°Tell us Scarlet!¡± Abigail said and mom repeated what she said and so I did. I couldn''t just keep the happiness to myself.


    ¡°Well, I met this boy last night,¡± I said.


    The moment those words escaped my lips, mom had a frown on her face while my sister was jumping up and down, excited.


    ¡°Show us.¡± Abigail grabbed my hand eagerly. I gave her a confused look. I never saw this side of my sister.


    Is she trying to mock me or snatch him away?


    So I reluctantly told them about the conversation I had with Pathum last night and exchanged the information we know about the country he lived in.


    But soon, my stomach growled for more food even though it had been a few hours since I ate. Apart from having a shower and bathing Mazie I didn''t have much to do today.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Once I was alone, my thoughts drifted back to Pathum. I explored more information about the country and saw some images of it and his people.


    Pathum was right. They do look like Indians but they aren¡¯t. So why should I bother thinking?


    I looked at the info and it¡¯s wonderful to have the chance to be able to talk to someone from that far. He might be miles away but it felt like he was here with me. He¡¯s one good-looking cutie. Oh I shouldn¡¯t think too much about him.


    Soon, we heard more news about the coronavirus. Like Mom told us, it was rapidly spreading throughout Europe, causing the death toll and the rate of hospitalizations to rise. All that the media has to show is the careless behavior of people and the suffering of victims. But I wasn¡¯t frightened. I truly believe He will protect us.


    If only people had faith and behaved properly, then maybe then God would¡¯ve protected them. I felt bad for thinking such thoughts but people never listen to the good things until we can¡¯t reverse the deeds. But when it¡¯s too late there will only be regrets rather than lessons.


    Soon, my dad and I were sitting in the living room, waiting for my mom to call us to sit down for dinner, and Abigail was in her bedroom. I was just sitting on the couch, daydreaming about Pathum until my father cleared his throat.


    ¡°Scarlet?¡± he asked, looking at me through his spectacles curiously.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°What are you daydreaming about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just excited because it¡¯s almost nighttime,¡± I remarked, a slight grin on my face.


    He rolled his eyes and stretched out on the sofa. I wanted to tell him about Pathum but yet I was a bit nervous.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s that¡¯s because it¡¯s the only time I can talk to my new friend.¡±


    ¡°Mmm.¡± Was his only response.


    ¡°Dad!¡± I exclaimed, raising both my hands.


    ¡°Well, is this new guy your most recent crush?¡± he asked.


    I blushed due to his sudden questioning. My emotions were etched on my face proving indeed what he said was true. But this boy is only a friend, nothing more than that. I believe that¡¯s the truth. God knows above everyone that Pathum¡¯s only a friend. He might have impressed me with his handsome appearance but nothing more than a friend. Scarlet is not in love with anyone. I sternly believe that.


    ¡°Dad, it¡¯s not like that,¡± I said trying to hold my poker face.


    He pretended like he believed me, looking away.


    ¡°Okay¡­. If you say so.¡±


    I pouted at him childishly.


    ¡°Dad, don¡¯t do this.¡±


    My dad settled back into his seat, looking at me intently. And when he spoke, it was in a tone like he was discussing the weather.


    ¡°I ain¡¯t doing nothing, sweetheart.¡±


    I cocked my head curiously.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    He nodded, a cheeky smile now on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m just happy someone is genuinely interested in your character more than your butt,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Oh, my¡ª please don¡¯t ever say something like that again,¡± I said, blushing and covering my face with my hands before emitting a shrill scream.


    ¡°What? Are you still in denial that you got a big butt?¡± He looked at me, adjusting his spectacles.


    Still embarrassed, I ignored his comment and looked away.


    My mom then came into the room and sat down on the couch next to my dad. She had an amused look on her face. That meant she heard the entire conversation.


    ¡°Stop giving her hope Steve. She doesn''t have a big butt,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yes, she does. You¡¯re just jealous of her,¡± Dad replied.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± mom said as she stood in front of my dad like a statue.


    ¡°Yes, you are,¡± dad argued back.


    Mom refused to give up but in the meantime, I was wondering why mom always says something bad about me? Why can''t she be funny? So what if I do believe that I have a big butt? I can''t deny what I see in front of my mirror. NOT to mention how many guys have gotten into trouble for just peeking at my buns.


    Oh what am I SAYING?!


    Mom then saw me smiling in a random direction and gave me a weird look.


    ¡°WHAT ARE YOU SMILING AT?!¡± she asked.


    Shaking out of my thoughts, I looked at her, a neutral expression on my face.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    A few moments later, Abigail came into the room, and settled on the couch beside Mom. She was smirking as she always did, and cocked her eyebrow in our direction. It seems like she heard what we were talking about, but was pretending to ignore it so she could ask and get it explained to her.


    ¡°What¡¯cha talkin¡¯ about?¡±


    Dad was quick to respond.


    ¡°About Scarlet¡¯s big butt!¡±


    The volume of his voice made Abigail and I start laughing, but hers was more mocking as she smirked at me.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have a big butt.¡±


    My mom and sister never agreed with my dad and I. They often say I have nothing. That I¡¯m a simple lass who looks overweight. Whenever I see myself in the mirror, I feel like they¡¯re right.


    On the other hand, my sister looks like a Barbie. It''s so unfair. But we can''t argue about it.


    God has created us for a reason and bestowed upon us our roles. We must take part in the drama of life and exit when it''s time for us to get off the stage. So, just some of us make ourselves puppets in this game.


    Dad then repeated that I had the best butt in the family and accused both my mom and sister of being envious. Mom and Abigail always refused to accept the truth. I don''t know if I¡¯m in good shape but sometimes when they say certain things, I think I¡¯m a sumo girl. If so I unquestionably ought to starve. But the sight and smell of food makes me only want to eat.


    ¡°You guys are so jealous. Dad is stating facts here,¡± I said stopping their worthless argument.


    Abigail heard me and gave me another taunting smirk.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s what you wish, but remember, wishes don¡¯t always come true.¡±


    Mom didn''t get Abigail¡¯s notion, so she proceeded to go along with it. She arose from her seat and walked into the kitchen. But when she saw we weren¡¯t following, she turned back around and beckoned us with her hand.


    ¡°It''s time for dinner, guys.¡±


    We got up, but I was stopped by Abigail, who winked at me teasingly.


    ¡°Did I get you to start thinking, darling?¡± she asked, her green eyes never leaving mine.


    ¡°Whatever.¡± I looked away.


    Abigail shook her head. My face started turning red and I glared at her. I was seconds away from losing my temper with her.


    ¡°What''s your problem?¡± I asked.


    She winked again.


    ¡°Oh, nothing. My butt¡¯s just better than yours.¡±


    I rolled my eyes.


    How mature.


    ¡°So what?¡± I asked, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow at her sassily.


    Her next words made my eyes widen.


    ¡°So you can come down to Earth from your dream world.¡±


    I know she¡¯s my sister but one day she¡¯ll come to the realisation that she had lost sight of the moon while connecting the stars. I don''t comprehend to what end that it¡¯ll take her but indisputably somewhere terrible. She has lost a portion of my love and if she continues, I¡¯ll have nothing left. I won''t be surprised if it comes to that day.


    It¡¯s up to her to either build a palace or dig herself a pit.


    I was brought back to the world when Abigail snapped at me, and we held hands and prayed to God, thanking His grace for providing us with food. All the while my dad had started to eat since he never prayed. All my life, I haven''t seen him do so. But he allows us to engage in our beliefs. He wasn''t always pleased with that but most of the time he was a good man and father. But of course there were times that statements were questioned.


    Even good men have horrible moments. I know dad¡¯s a good person but he hasn''t always been like that. He¡¯s displayed monstrous episodes in the past, some of which includes slapping Abigail. I can¡¯t stand her but at the end of the day she¡¯s still my sister and I won''t let any man hurt her whether it was dad or not.


    It doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m against my dad, or maybe I am. Even though he was friendly today he isn¡¯t always like this. I felt horrible at the thought that I¡¯d ever go against my dad.


    I¡¯m sorry dad. I thought as we finished eating.


    Soon, it was time for bed but it was too early to sleep. I looked at my phone and there were no new notifications. I held my phone and laid in bed staring at the ceiling. But that''s when my device beeped.


    I had a new message. My frown turned into a smile at the sight of his name.


    ¡°Thank God.¡±

 Chapter 4

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    I thought Louisiana was a country in Europe but it was in the United States. Isn''t that marvellous? I guess my guesstimate failed. America has such a different culture within that globalised world.


    Oh, but I¡¯m ashamed of my current lack of expertise in geography even though I was good during my O/Levels. But it¡¯s still disappointing to see I failed to recognise Louisiana. Of course I forgive myself, it isn''t that big of a deal. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m surprised to find Louisiana is in America. Their culture looks totally different.


    Anyway, this new friend is a kind girl, and it was nice talking with her. The fact she¡¯s a female and texted me amazes me. Maybe because I never had girls text me in the past. I mean of course she wasn''t the first one I talked to but she has an awesome aura. She¡¯s sweet and innocent. It was my first impression of her.


    So, the first thing I did once I got out of bed and washed my face was log into Wattpad to message her.


    ¡°Good morning, Scarlet!¡±


    She replied back with,


    ¡°It''s night here, dear!¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, my dear. What are you doing?¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Not much. And it¡¯s fine. You just met me, so you don¡¯t know about the time difference. Anyway, good morning to you.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Well, now, I know about the time zone.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. Do you like studying time?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Neither sweetie.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Okay. But what¡¯s the time difference between our two countries?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°It¡¯s 10 hours and 30 minutes.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Wow. That¡®s a huge difference.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Yeah, it is.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Wait, how do you know it¡¯s 10 hours and 30 minutes?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Because I¡¯m a witch! Haha!¡±


    I just checked the time zone on my clock and then Googled the time in Louisiana. It was a simple act. But this girl is too adorable.


    Scarlet: ¡°No, you¡¯re a wizard!¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Oh, right. Haha. I used your own skills against you.¡±


    Scarlet:  ¡°Yes, you did, hunny.¡±


    Pathum: So, what shall we talk about?¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Anything is fine with me!¡±


    Pathum: ¡°OK! So, what¡¯s your favourite movie, book, colour etc..¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°It might come as a surprise to you but I don¡¯t have a favorite book or film, but I do have a favorite color, and it¡¯s green. So now tell me about your list of favorites.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Wow I am surprised that you don¡¯t have a lot of favourites but it¡¯s okay. My favourite colours are green, blue or pink. I can¡¯t seem to pick one.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Nice! So tell me about your favorite book and stuff.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Sherlock Holmes is my favourite novel but A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle is also super-amazing. I don¡¯t have a favourite film, but I recently watched Little Women, which was so beautiful. It reminded me of you. But before I go further, I want to clarify something. What¡¯s with this country girl thing? I¡¯m not American or European, so I don¡¯t know what it means. Could you explain it to me? You guys look different from most of the people I see in movies and YouTube¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°So as you know in the Southern states is where country people live. There are many states that are like us and states that aren¡¯t. We¡¯re closer to animals and nature than city people. They live in a fancy world of skyscrapers and items. We, on the other hand, like mud and farming; we aren¡¯t scared to go into the mud. We also like 4-wheel vehicles, and being around horses. We listen to God in the midst of all the craziness. So, yes country people are different from city people, sweetie.


    We use technology but know our limits, and don¡¯t party much, I mean we do like to have fun, but we don¡¯t do fancy dancing. We live by the grace of the Lord by respecting Him and believing that He¡¯ll take care of us. We love God and He loves us. Yes, we¡¯re religious and abide by every rule God has set upon us. So my dear when I told you that I don¡¯t have a favorite book or film, it¡¯s true. Most of us don¡¯t watch movies. We feed our animals, pray to God, do our chores, and live by the name of God. That''s how our day goes. Something different from what you see on TV or on social media.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Wow! That¡¯s a long message, sweetie. Oh, I¡¯m sorry for addressing you with that term. I only used it since you did. But if that bothers you, I won¡¯t use it. But guess what? I read your bio and learned some things about you, also I read your face reveal book and figured out you guys are different from other people I see on social media. Those I see on the Internet behave unlike your people. I wonder why you¡¯re different from city people. Do you hate them? What¡¯s the cause for your differences? I¡¯m sorry for asking so many questions but I¡¯m fascinated by American culture.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize, you didn''t offend me. But it¡¯s not that we hate city people, sweetie; we don¡¯t like their behavior. Most of them do things that aren¡¯t supposed to be done regarding the preaching of the Lord. They¡¯re beyond the limit God has set upon us. And they live by bad will. Thankfully, not all city people are like that but a majority share the same characteristics. But sweetie, there¡¯s no hatred between us; it¡¯s just that we live on a farm and they live a life where the farm is in their heads and the animals are out of control. And remember there are always decent city people and ugly country people. It depends upon the individual.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°I understand what you¡¯re trying to say, so thank you for letting me know all these details about your culture. It¡¯s interesting. But I was just thinking about something. Country people are similar to my people. We dress like you and I think our cultures have some similarities. Most of our females wear frocks like yours. They don¡¯t usually wear shorts, but country people wear clothes that cover their body well. I love your attire; it makes you guys look respectful. But hey I¡¯m not saying people who dress in shorts are bad. I¡¯m just saying that your characteristics are admirable.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I''m glad we¡¯re similar, and that¡¯s kind of you.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Me too! Oh, I believe it¡¯s midnight at your place. Is it time for you to go to sleep?¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll text you later. Because if my mom finds out I¡¯m still awake, I¡¯ll be in trouble. It was nice talking to you. Goodbye!¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Have a good night, friend.¡±


    It was amazing to get to know her. So I checked out her face reveal book and saw many pictures which correspond to the details she said. Even though I briefly peeked at it before, I decided to look at it further to get to know her more.


    I love looking at her long, wavy blonde hair and lovely sky-blue eyes. They¡¯re nothing like my boring brown eyes and dark hair. She¡¯s so pretty. Oh, God, why did I say that again? Well, she is but the first thing that grabs my attention when looking at her is her innocence.


    I cannot comprehend why that is but I believe it wholeheartedly. She¡¯s innocent and pure at heart. The way she poses for pictures and her manner of speech are further proof of my statements.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    I¡¯m so lucky to have met her.


    I spend the rest of my time watching anime and doing some work for my classes. I¡¯ve been thinking about this month because it¡¯s March of 2020 and I consider it the month in which I¡¯ll upgrade my results. But luckily we¡¯re on holiday until April, so I don¡¯t have to worry about studies. I now have more free time.


    But soon, I grabbed my Biology book and started to study. It was nice but I couldn''t do as much as I planned.


    My thoughts kept drifting to Scarlet. She¡¯s not like other girls I¡¯ve seen on Wattpad. She¡¯s talkative and above all, innocent. She¡¯s innocence at its best. Often, repetition becomes irritating but admiring this girl will never be annoying to me.


    A while later, my mom entered the room and shook her head at me.


    ¡°You should be studying,¡± she scolded with a frown on her face.


    I flushed in embarrassment.


    ¡°Who the hell is daydreaming?¡±


    She narrowed her eyes at me sternly. I gulped, knowing she wasn¡¯t impressed with my attitude.


    ¡°Watch your tongue with me, boy. I am your mother, and I deserve respect.¡±


    A wave of frustration washed over me. I hated when words that aren¡¯t supposed to leave my mouth, are said to the wrong person. I wonder where this tongue is when I¡¯m with my classmates, because it¡¯s them whom I should say venomous things to. Not my mom, but it¡¯s too late for it.


    I stood up, frustrated with myself, and was about to leave the room when my mom shook her head at me. This stopped me in my tracks.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to leave the room, Pathum. I¡¯ll leave so you can stay here and study in peace,¡± she said, turning away but I was quick to hug her.


    She reciprocated the gesture, and gently patted me on the back. The warm sensation of tears coming down my face. She must¡¯ve sensed it because the next thing that came out of her mouth was;


    ¡°Sweetheart, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I was rude to you, mom,¡± I said, the tears continuing to well up in my eyes.


    She only smiled gently.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, son. I still love you.¡± She kissed my forehead.


    I shook my head at her. It wasn¡¯t okay. The tears were still pooling out of my eyes and going down my face. Some even got in my mouth, and I choked on them.


    When I spoke, my voice was barely audible, my mom had to strain her ears to hear me properly.


    ¡°I hate that I don¡¯t have control over my emotions and words.¡±


    ¡°Then, learn to control them, or they¡¯ll control you,¡± she said in a firm but reassuring voice but I didn¡¯t let her go.


    ¡°Umm..¡± I tried to say but was stuttering.


    She looked at me while touching my cheek gently.


    ¡°Other than that, what¡¯s wrong, son?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­..¡± I was still stuttering and avoided her gaze while grabbing my phone with a shaking hand to open Wattpad and going to Scarlet¡¯s profile.  I turned to her, showing her the screen, and managed to choke out, ¡°I made a new friend on Wattpad.¡±


    Mom¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement and she bounced on the balls of her feet.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great! Who¡¯s the lucky boy?¡± she asked.


    I looked at her in wonder and scratched my head. Red coloured my cheeks.


    ¡°Well, Mom, here¡¯s the thing. It¡¯s not a boy¡­.¡±


    Realisation dawned on her and she nodded, a grin coming across her face. She sat on the bed, crossing her legs, and looked up at me.


    ¡°Oh¡­. Okay. Well, then, who is she? Where does she live?¡±


    ¡°Her name is Scarlet, and she¡¯s from America.¡±


    Mom squealed in joy and tried to look at my phone.


    ¡°Oh, how exciting! Now you have to show me what she looks like,¡± she said.


    Blushing, I showed her Scarlet¡¯s profile picture but since Mom wasn¡¯t satisfied with the micro picture, I showed her the face reveal book.


    With every picture I saw a growing delight in her eyes. I was so nervous I dropped my phone on the table. I was shaking but I don¡¯t know why.


    Of course my mom gave me a concerned look, putting her hand on my shoulder to try to steady me.


    ¡°Why are you shaking?¡± She narrowed her eyes at me.


    ¡°Uhhh¡­. No reason,¡± I lied.


    Her eyes narrowed further.


    ¡°Are you hiding something else from me?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± I shouted, which might have hurt her feelings judging by the frown on her face.


    After a few seconds, her frown went to a more neutral expression. I don¡¯t think she believed me, but she nodded in response.


    ¡°Ok¡­.. well, then. Study well, son.¡± She got up and left the room.


    I took a Physics question and meddled with it, but to my disappointment I couldn''t figure it out. I don''t understand what¡¯s required for me to succeed. It¡¯s my concern to pass my Physics exam and nature never fails to frustrate me.


    Grabbing my phone, I sent a message to Scarlet.


    Since it''s afternoon for me, it¡¯s morning for her, so I wasn¡¯t expecting her to text me yet. Of course, she didn¡¯t. Then a sudden thought came to my mind and I agreed upon it.


    I think it¡¯s time I tell someone about her.


    Opening WhatsApp, I clicked on my friend Manoj¡¯s name and sent him the screenshots of mine and Scarlet¡¯s conversation. I didn¡¯t send her face reveal book because I didn''t want anyone to see more than what they¡¯ve already seen. I don¡¯t trust anyone. However, I know the face reveal is public so that I need to be okay with it.


    Oh, why am I bothered? I should mind my own business.


    An hour later, I got a message from Manoj.


    ¡°You¡¯re a flirt, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Pathum: What the hell is wrong with you? No, I¡¯m not. What do you mean?


    Manoj: Well you called her sweetie, didn¡¯t you man?


    Pathum: She was the first to call me sweetie so that''s why I replied with that.


    Manoj: Calm down. I¡¯m not going to steal her from you.


    Pathum: I am calm, brother.


    Manoj: Where does she live?


    Pathum: Louisiana, which is in the USA.


    Manoj: Oh, that¡¯s great! So was she the only one who was flirting?


    Pathum: I¡¯ll say it again, I¡¯m not flirting with anyone. I NEVER HAVE and probably will not in the future. She was the first to text me and is nothing more than a friend. That''s all. The only reason I told you is because I felt like telling you. So why can''t you believe that?


    Manoj: Calm down, it¡¯s fine to flirt with a girl. It¡¯s not a crime.


    Pathum: Oh, for freak¡¯s sake, I¡¯m never showing you anything ever again.


    And that was it. We talked about a few topics and eventually the discussion came to an end. It was always the case with me. Oh, yes I know every conversation comes to an end eventually but at least some last for hours but the case with me was it only for five minutes and then we¡¯re out of things to talk about so we¡¯re left with an awkward silence and then either Manoj or I go offline.


    But it''s funny that the situation¡¯s different when it comes to Scarlet because we never run out of things to talk about.


    I wonder where we¡¯ll go with our relationship?


    Even though it has only been a few days, I feel more comfortable around her than most of my classmates. That''s odd because she¡¯s a girl, but I hope it¡¯s not a major issue.


    Oh, what the hell Pathum? There¡¯s nothing wrong with having a girl as a friend. But isn''t that a problem when you don''t have many guy friends? Who cares I don''t need those losers. The ones who want me in their life will remain and all the others who don''t will leave.


    Snapping out of my thoughts, I spent the afternoon studying Biology, but I wasn¡¯t able to answer the questions properly. Why can''t I EVER get good grades? Maybe I¡¯m not focused¡­. I think I¡¯m focused and I don''t think there¡¯s room for improvement. I¡¯m stubborn. So what? Oh nothing Pathum, you can do whatever you want.


    The rest of the afternoon was spent scolding myself and staring at my notes. Even though I was getting nothing done other than staring at them. Why can¡¯t God help me? But I guess if I want His help, I¡¯d have to give myself to Him.


    Then, once the evening came I bathed and was ready to text Scarlet. We had talked every single day for the past week. She would text me by 6:30 pm but in her area it''s around 8 or 9. And like usual we talked starting from 6 but her messages were delayed but I still responded to them without asking why. I don''t know what¡¯s going on. But she seems to be having a problem which she sin¡¯t comfortable sharing with me. I don''t know if I have something to do with it or not.


    Eventually, that¡¯s when I got this weird message from her.


    ¡°Hey Pathum, I apologise for the delayed messages, but I don¡¯t think I can continue talking to you through this platform anymore.¡±


    What happened? Did I say something wrong?


    I tugged on my hair in frustration, staring at the screen.


    Shit!


    I waited until midnight, but she never replied to any of my messages. I don¡¯t know what I did but she seemed upset.


    What did I do wrong?


    Right when I feel like I¡¯ve made a friend, she says she can''t talk to me anymore. Oh, life is so fun.

 Chapter 5

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    We talked for another two weeks on Wattpad but things continued to be complicated because the app wouldn¡¯t show me my upcoming notifications. Even if I received messages, they¡¯d arrive hours later. I couldn''t focus on anything: I even had to get out of the kitchen because I didn¡¯t want to cook or eat. Not when my hands are tied and I wanted to express myself to him. I couldn''t do anything and that pissed me off.


    Oh, sorry, excuse my language; I hate this freaking app.


    When I had my morning tea, I threw my phone down onto the table but it accidentally cracked the screen. That lesson forced me not to take my anger out on my phone.


    I wonder how he¡¯s so calm about it? Doesn''t he want to talk to me like I want to talk to him? Or is he some force who had held himself in front of a disaster? I have no clue.


    Even though it has been just a few days since I met him, I¡¯m comfortable around him. What¡¯s wrong with me, or what¡¯s wrong with Wattpad? Why is it trying to keep us apart?


    If it was minutes I would be forgiving but since it¡¯s days and hours, it freaking sucks. I prayed to God multiple times that He would fix it. He didn¡¯t but I¡¯m hopeful I KNOW He¡¯ll fix this issue and soon we¡¯ll be well.


    Some do call it insanity while others say it¡¯s faith. You can stick to your opinion but no one can alter my faith. I don''t understand what am I thinking? Who am I referring to? And why in the heavens am I so mad? I don''t understand. I never have and never will. No, of course not. I¡¯ll eventually get to know about this just like I did about everything else.


    Still, it was frustrating to open the app and check whether I got new messages or not instead of being notified about it. But life doesn''t always obey our wishes. I wanted to scream and throw my phone, breaking it into pieces but it¡¯ll only end on a bad note for us.


    I miss him every now and then. I don¡¯t want to lose him so I wouldn''t want to harm my device. It¡¯s the only way I could connect to him and if it¡¯s broken, then there¡¯s a stop to our friendship.


    That would be my worst nightmare coming true.


    So I had to ask for his email. Because I know I can¡¯t talk to him like this. Whether he¡¯ll agree or not depends on him, but I don''t think he¡¯d refuse. The app is crazy, but that doesn''t mean we have to go nuts.


    We talk once every eight hours or so and then sleep. For example, I¡¯d get up at eight in the morning and we¡¯d talk until midnight. The only break we¡¯d have is when we¡¯re asleep. Sometimes I want to sleep less so that I could talk to him more. I bet he¡¯d want to do the same.


    I didn¡¯t even do my chores when I was supposed to. How can I focus on work when Wattpad is going nuts? I had to calm my nerves and let him know about the problem before he jumped to conclusions. But I think he already did.


    Seeing my frustrated face, Abigail was over the moon. She worries when I¡¯m happy and rejoices when I¡¯m in trouble.


    ¡°What''s with you lately?¡± Abigail asked as I leaned back on my chair.


    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± I replied with a question instead of an answer, she looked at me aghast.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see that I¡¯m trying to take care of you?¡± She crossed her arms and raised her brows.


    I looked at her, suspicion emitting from every pore.


    ¡°There¡¯s a difference between taking care of me and trying to make sure I stay in a pit of misery,¡± I snapped. ¡°Which one are you rooting for?¡±


    My mom, who was walking by, stopped when she heard the comment and glared at me. She was in full support of Abigail¡¯s behavior. She shook her head at me, a smirk on her face.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s so rude of you.¡±


    I groaned. It would always be them against me. What would I expect from them? Or what did I expect? For them to help me and cope with me in everything and bless my heart and soul? I¡¯m TIRED OF GOSH DANG reasons.


    Screaming, I tried to make my way out of the room but my mom raised her arm implying I shouldn¡¯t. By the look of it, it looks like we¡¯re about to have a lecture.


    ¡°Scarlet, you better get seated.¡±


    I threw my arms in the air and stomped back to my seat, sitting down harshly and crossing my arms. I directed my eyes towards Abigail, narrowing them at her.


    ¡°Oh so you can lecture me on how to take care of myself or bend my knee to your gorgeous generous girl?¡± I asked.


    Abigail looked away while making sure her smirk was visible.


    ¡°You ought to be taught how to talk to your elders. You have no respect for your sister or me,¡± Mom said, glaring at me.


    She hasn¡¯t liked me since the day I decided I would only do things I liked to do rather than things they liked to do.


    ¡°Why should I have respect for either of you?!¡± I raised my voice.


    Mom glared at me harder as if I committed a crime and grabbed her tea and took a seat next to Abigail. She always sat close to her; they were in sync. I was the outsider, the odd one.


    And I hated it.


    ¡°Because they know better than you do,¡± she said to which my sister nodded her head.


    ¡°What is it that they know about more than me?¡± I asked.


    My mother jumped up from her chair so she was towering over me and glowered down at me. Her green eyes were alight with fury. She looked as if she were about to slap me for my comments.


    ¡°What has gotten into you, Scarlet? You¡¯ve been treating your family horribly. Did you do something wrong? The Lord is watching you, so be careful of your actions,¡± she said, throwing daggers from her eyes while caressing Abigail¡¯s arm affectionately.


    It¡¯s funny that they¡¯re worried about something being wrong but they assume that it¡¯s my fault rather than for me. How funny do I have to be?


    Funny and pathetic good God!


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± they both said together.


    I couldn''t argue with them at the moment.


    ¡°YES I AM.¡±


    Mom glared at me before she clasped her hands in front of herself.


    ¡°How much longer are you going to hide the truth?¡±


    I scoffed.


    ¡°As long as I can.¡±


    Mom looked at me, her eyes hard and unyielding.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re off-track? It¡¯s time you cooperate with an adult that cares about you.¡±


    I laughed mockingly at my mom¡¯s words.


    ¡°Is there anyone in this house who cares about me? If so, raise your hand.¡± I raised my hand and shook it, mocking them both.


    Surprisingly, my sister¡¯s features softened, and she quickly raised her hand. My jaw dropped in shock seeing the somewhat affectionate look on her face. She directed her green eyes towards me. At that moment, I felt a bond forming that I never felt before. It was like she was caring about me.


    I don¡¯t know, but out of the two of us, she was the first to break the ice. She set the tone before speaking.


    ¡°I might not always caress your hair, provide you with hugs, or comfort you with sweet words but I¡¯ve always cared about you.¡±


    I felt like a dagger got stuck in my heart and she had offered me a pot painted in gold but it was full of cow dung. It looks sweet and glorious from the outside but inside it''s just trauma.


    I¡¯m not going to accept that what she said was facts. But she didn''t look like she was lying. Oh but people can be deceptive. I know that firsthand. Nevertheless, I¡¯m not going to abandon Abigail. Because at the end of the day, she¡¯s still my sister.


    ¡°I hope you do, sister,¡± I said.


    ¡°I do,¡± she said and hugged me, embracing all my weight.


    I felt the salty, bitter taste of tears but her embrace took the taste away. We remained there for a moment. But we disentangled ourselves from the embrace before settling into our original chairs and facing our mom.


    She was giving me a look of concern as she spoke.


    ¡°Now tell us, what has gotten into you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± I said, but instead they shook their heads and frowned.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t nothing, Scarlet, so please tell us.¡± Mom came over to me and touched my face gently.


    More tears cascaded down my cheeks and she wiped them. I looked her in the eyes once they were gone. And, taking a deep breath, I decided to reveal everything to them. I believed I could trust them with this.


    ¡°Okay, so my Wattpad app doesn''t work and I get Pathum¡¯s replies late. It makes me so mad. I just want to talk to him but this stupid app always prevents it,¡± I broke into tears while hugging my mom.


    For the first time in a long time, I felt my mom¡¯s affection.


    I only saw it when she delivered it to my sister but now finally she has chosen to give me some love. Oh, God what¡¯s the plan? To teach me something?


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Well, I don''t see it, but I believe He will clear the path so that I could.


    ¡°Oh dear, is that why you have been grumpy since this morning? How childish of you. Besides don¡¯t trust people online.¡±


    I gave her a determined look full of conviction.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be careful mom.¡±


    She cocked her head, tutting at me.


    ¡°Well, until it¡¯s too late huh?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a good guy mom. I can feel it," I said reassuringly.


    My expression must¡¯ve been so convincing because she stood up and gave me a defeated look. She cleared her throat and spoke in a quiet but stern voice.


    ¡°Okay, I understand if you have so much faith in him, but still, be careful. We haven''t seen him yet. Don¡¯t you have any pictures of him?¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°No. Unfortunately, Wattpad only allows for texts to be sent. Not pictures.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s weird. Is there another way you guys could talk other than Wattpad?¡± My sister finally raised her voice.


    ¡°If I could get him to Google Hangouts then we¡¯ll figure out what he looks like and how his personality is.¡±


    ¡°That''s up to him,¡± mom said before she went to the sink and washed her cup.


    A few moments later, Dad entered to the kitchen, furrowing his eyebrows at us in confusion.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Mom cracked up, laughing slightly.


    ¡°We¡¯re talking about her new friend from the other side of the world.¡±


    Dad looked at me for a moment and smiled.


    ¡°Whoever he is and wherever he is, she¡¯s going crazy for him.¡±


    Abigail spoke up, too, amusement in her voice.


    ¡°And she¡¯s been grumpy since she couldn''t talk to him.¡±


    ¡°I can see that,¡± Dad coughed.


    I blushed in response and I had no chance to hide my face so I stood up and left the room and I heard them giggle. Oh, they can laugh all they want; I''m going to go text my boy.


    Why in the heavens did I say that?


    Shaking off my thoughts, I grabbed my phone to log into Wattpad and texted Pathum.


    Scarlet: ¡°Hey Pathum, my Wattpad app seems to not be getting messages due to an error. Do you know of another way that we can talk?¡±


    Pathum: ¡°Oh hey! You can check the notifications from its settings then everything will be fine.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°I tried sweetie but it doesn''t work. Can you send me your email? That way, I can add you to Google Hangouts.¡±


    Pathum: ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of Hangouts, but I¡¯ll send you my email. It¡¯s  [email protected]</a>.¡±


    Scarlet: ¡°Oh, sweetie you can find it in the Play Store or if you have an iPhone, the App Store. It has a green quotation mark. Let me send you a message.¡±


    It took us fifteen minutes to connect on Hangouts because he seemed to have a hard time looking for the app on his phone or agreeing to adapt to a new app. But soon, he had it up and running, so I messaged him.


    Scarlet: Hey!


    Pathum: Hello!


    Scarlet: Are you nervous? I¡¯m just asking but I''m so excited to talk to you.


    Pathum: I¡¯m a bit scared but other than that I¡¯m alright. I''m glad we can chat here rather than waiting for hours on Wattpad. I''m sorry I was scared to share my email. It was my first time, umm not first, but for a normal conversation it¡¯s my first time sharing my email. People on Wattpad designed covers so I had the chance to meet¨C err¡­ message two of them. That''s my history. I¡¯m sorry that it wasn¡¯t relevant but I proceeded to text that to you like a fool.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t call yourself that, sweetie. It¡¯s fine to share your history and it¡¯s fine to be scared, but don¡¯t worry. I''m a good girl.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you, I just meant I was hesitant to share my email. You¡¯re a good friend; there isn¡¯t anything wrong with that.


    Scarlet: Let¡¯s forget about that sweetie.


    Pathum: No. I''m sorry that I was hesitant to send you the email. I trusted you but I was scared. Please, I''m sorry.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, stop apologising. You were being cautious, and I would¡¯ve done the same thing. There''s no greater crime than saying sorry for things that weren''t hurtful.


    Pathum: But I still feel bad about it. I''m sorry if I hurt you. I wanted to talk to you but was just scared.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, can you stop that?


    Pathum: Okay. So what are we going to talk about?


    Scarlet: You tell me. Hehe.


    Pathum: Hehehe


    Scarlet: You¡¯re so cute.


    Pathum: You¡¯re ugly.


    Scarlet: Wow! My sister says that to me all the time.


    Pathum: I think she has issues. You aren¡¯t ugly. Just go see the comments in your face reveal book.


    Scarlet: About that¡­. Is it okay if I post more pictures?


    Pathum: It¡¯s up to you, sweetie, I don¡¯t control your life.


    Scarlet: Okay. But why do you dislike that idea?


    Pathum: Nothing.. Sweetie.


    Scarlet: Pathum¡­


    Pathum: Okay, fine, I¡¯ll tell you.


    I don''t want people to sneak into your pictures because who knows what they would do with them? However, it''s your book, so you don''t have to listen to me. But please consider the advice.


    Scarlet: I¡¯ve had days where I¡¯d think about it, and I must agree with you sweetie. I can''t let people sneak into my life. Who knows what they¡¯re planning¡­


    Pathum: Absolutely!


    Scarlet: Anyway, let¡¯s change the topic.. How was Little Women?


    Pathum: Pretty damn awesome.


    Scarlet: That¡¯s good news. Do you care to tell me about it?


    Pathum: I told it before I guess. I don''t recall. But well let me start it again. So it¡¯s about a family of four lovely daughters and it¡¯s mainly centred on a country lifestyle. The daughters were very cute. I doubt I didn''t fall in love with them.


    Scarlet: Awww look at you my blushing friend.


    Pathum: No, I¡¯m not, ma¡¯am.


    Scarlet: Yes, you are sir.


    Pathum: How did you know?


    Scarlet: Because I¡¯m a witch.


    Pathum: I knew you would say that.


    Scarlet: Oops!


    Pathum: Oh, God, don''t say that word. It makes me so embarrassed.


    Scarlet: Oops my apologies sir.


    Pathum: Scarlet nooo.


    Scarlet: Oh, I can imagine your red face already!


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry but I think I have to accuse you of lies.


    Scarlet: What did I lie about?


    Pathum: About imagining my face. How could you if you haven''t seen a perfect picture of me?


    Scarlet: Do me a favour and send me a picture of you.


    Pathum: I don''t have a nice picture of me though. Sorry.


    Scarlet: Gimme a picture of you right now boy. I¡¯m not taking no as an answer.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t have any good pictures of me. I¡¯m not lying sweetie, I wish I had some good pictures that I could send you.


    Scarlet: Like I said, I¡¯m not taking no as an answer. Do you understand Pathum?


    Pathum: Sweetie¡­


    Scarlet: SEND ME A CUTE PICTURE OF YOU IMMEDIATELY SIR.


    Pathum: That¡¯s the problem sweetie. I don''t have any cute pictures of me, please believe me.


    Scarlet: I ABSOLUTELY DON''T BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAID.


    Pathum: Scarlet¡­


    Scarlet: The person you¡¯re trying to reach is unavailable until you send the magic picture.


    Pathum: Fine. I¡¯ll send you a picture I took in 2017. It was a cute one and I don''t think I look so different from that picture.


    Scarlet: Nope. I need a new picture.


    He then sent me pictures of him, claiming they were older pictures of him and that he doesn¡¯t look so different. But I wasn''t satisfied so I urged him to send a new one which he did. Once the pictures were in my possession, I went to show them to my family.


    Once my mom saw the pictures, her face lit up in delight.


    ¡°Oh, so this is the boy? God will be so pleased. He¡¯s such a cutie!¡± she exclaimed.


    My sister looked over at us and came over. Her expression was eager, and she was bouncing on her heels.


    ¡°Oooh, Scarlet, you must show me!¡±


    Mom pinched my cheek, playfully smiling down at me.


    ¡°She got a cute one from wherever she got him,¡± she said.


    Abigail saw the picture and grinned herself.


    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± she agreed.


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s one lucky girl.¡± My mom caressed my hair. ¡°Scarlet, please tell him I think he¡¯s cute.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± I said, smiling at both of them.


    I got onto Hangouts and sent him the message.


    Scarlet: My mom said you¡¯re cute.


    Pathum: Aww! Thank you dear.


    Scarlet: She also said you¡¯ll look even cuter if you do one favour for yourself.


    Pathum: Oh, and what is that dear?


    Scarlet: Smile sweetie.


    Pathum: Aww


    Scarlet: Can you do that for us?


    Pathum: Ummm¡­..


    Scarlet: What¡¯s wrong?


    Pathum: Well, there¡¯s a reason why I don¡¯t smile.


    Scarlet: And why is that?


    Pathum: I look ugly when I do.


    Scarlet: Wow. That¡¯s the biggest load of crap I¡¯ve heard all day.


    Pathum: When I smile, my teeth are visible and I don''t look nice. They need to be pushed backward since I used to suck my finger when I was younger. Do you get it?


    Scarlet: You look perfect the way you are and you¡¯d be better if you get loose from your insecurities sweetie. Just smile, take a snap, and you¡¯ll be cuter than ever.


    Pathum: I wish sweetie.


    Scarlet: No you don''t have to wish. You¡¯re cute when you smile.


    Pathum: How do you know that when you haven''t seen me smiling?


    Scarlet: I know a beautiful soul when I see one.


    Pathum: I¡¯m not anything special.


    Scarlet: Could you please stop that? You¡¯re a beautiful person, just smile more often and you¡¯ll be better. Got it sweetie?


    Pathum: I understand, sweetie.


    Scarlet: Okay. Now go out there, open your camera, and take a pic. Will you?


    Pathum: But I look ugly¡­


    Scarlet: No, you don''t, sweetie. Please don¡¯t make me say those words again.


    Pathum: But¡­


    Scarlet: There¡¯s no but in it alright?


    Pathum: All right, sweetie.


    Scarlet: Good boy. Now send me one with a big smile.


    After a few minutes, Pathum replied to me.


    Pathum: Okay, so I took the time to capture some pictures and they look..


    Scarlet: Look like what?


    Pathum: Awful.


    Scarlet: Oh, for Pete¡¯s sake, you¡¯re cute. Just smile, take a snap, and send me.


    Pathum: I¡¯M SO SORRY I just took another one but I look like a loser. I want to believe you but I can¡¯t. I don''t look good. I¡¯m sorry Scarlet I believe you but I can''t see any good in myself.


    Scarlet: We¡¯ve got a lot of work to do inside your mind. But without further ado, I¡¯ll ask one last time. Are you going to send a picture with your big smile or not? Just one simple answer.


    Pathum: Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Are you?

 Chapter 6

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    Since we¡¯ve started to get to know each other, we would talk for hours. She¡¯s so excited to talk to me and I was thrilled talking to her. We would talk from 5pm until 12am and then from 6am to 8am every day and the rest of the time we were asleep. She slept until around 8 while I managed to sleep between 6 and 8 or sometimes 10. She¡¯s pretty and guess what I think I need to write in my journal.


    She has started calling me her bestie! It¡¯s surprising but she claims that I am.


    I can start calling myself lucky. I¡¯ve known her for hardly a month but we¡¯ve expressed ourselves better than ever.


    Since I¡¯ve first started sending pictures to her, I was accused of not smiling, and thus I had to alter my insecurities to overcome the fear within me. Even though at the beginning I only showed a few teeth, I later managed to take a bunch with all of them but their irregular positioning looked awful to the camera. So I didn''t take pictures with a wide smile.


    Eventually, I logged into Wattpad, but there were some harsh critiques regarding my prologue. According to the comments, I have many grammatical errors and punctuation issues. And it seems I¡¯ve conveyed no emotion.


    It was tough to accept but now that I look at it, it seems that it¡¯s true. I don''t blame them for it. They did their job and I did mine but just that it wasn''t as perfect as I expected it to be.


    I¡¯ll look at them later but now I need to text her. So I went to open Google Hangouts.


    Pathum: Wake up, Sleeping Beauty! Hehe


    Scarlet: It¡¯s 6:00 am here sweetie.


    Pathum: I know. You seem to have forgotten to have gotten your 8 hours of sleep.


    Scarlet: I used to, but I cannot do that anymore. And you want to know why?


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry. Why is that you¡¯re not getting your usual eight hours of sleep?


    Scarlet: Because of you, brat!


    Pathum: OMG really? Thank you so much!


    I knew it but I wanted to hear it from her.


    Scarlet: How can I leave my bestie for 8 hours? I can¡¯t seem to do that.


    Pathum: About that I want to ask¡­. Who¡¯s your best friend in real life?


    Scarlet: Tell me why do you want to know about my real life bestie?


    Pathum: Anything and everything.


    Scarlet: Well let me tell about him. He¡¯s the sweetest person I¡¯ve ever met in my life. He loves talking to me. He loves books and loves watching movies. Also, I love him very much; he¡¯s the best guy in the entire world.


    Pathum: And his name is¡­ Pathum?


    Scarlet: Yes. It¡¯s Pathum Nisansala.


    Pathum: I can''t believe it. How can I be? It¡¯s impossible, I¡¯m just a boy.


    Scarlet: I can¡¯t believe it either but it¡¯s the truth sweetie. You¡¯re my bestie and I¡¯m glad for it.


    Pathum: Thank you so much for your kind words! They mean a lot to me.


    I mean my life couldn¡¯t have been better than this. Scarlet¡¯s such a sweet person, and she says I¡¯m her bestie. So imagine how lucky I am.


    She then asked me to introduce her to my mom which I did while making dinner. It wasn¡¯t an easy task. I got nervous and my hands shook when I introduced them, and I showed her some of the pictures I got from her. My mom was happy that I made a friend.


    ¡°Is she your age?¡± Mom asked the next morning while we were having our tea.


    ¡°No, she¡¯s a year younger than me,¡± I replied as I sipped my drink.


    ¡°Okay. She¡¯s very beautiful. So did you send her your pictures?¡± Mom looked at me.


    ¡°Ah, yes, like one or two old pictures. There weren''t any new ones,¡± I replied hesitantly, my mom could hear the quiver in my voice.


    ¡°Okay. But please be careful when sending pictures to strangers,¡± she warned with a concerned expression.


    ¡°She¡¯s not a bad person, mom!¡± I yelled.


    She raised her hand, palm facing me, and gave me a calm look.


    ¡°I never said she was. I was just telling you to be careful,¡± she sighed.


    ¡°Whatever!¡±


    I drank my tea and washed the cup. I then left my mom, still mad. My anger had gotten the better of me,  and I hate it. I didn¡¯t want to blame my mom or sound rude but I ended up doing just that. I hate my temper.


    Grabbing my phone I texted Scarlet.


    Scarlet: What¡¯s up, sweetie?


    Pathum: What do you think is up?


    Scarlet: Mmm?!


    Pathum: My BUTT!


    Scarlet: OMG


    Pathum: OMG what?!


    Scarlet: My mom just looked at me with wide eyes, all thanks to you PATHUM.


    Pathum: OMG what did I do?


    Scarlet: You have a very bad memory. Did you just forgot that you made me laugh out loud?


    Pathum: Oh, did I? Well, then, I¡¯m glad I did that. Hehe.


    Scarlet: Brat!


    Pathum: Hehehe!


    Scarlet: You¡¯re such a cute bestie.


    Pathum: Aww you¡¯re calling me your bestie again. Thank you.


    Scarlet: It¡¯s because that¡¯s the truth. And I¡¯m proud to call you mine.


    Pathum: Aww sweetie! You give me more credit than I ever deserve. Why do you do that? Do you do that for every boy you meet? OMG I¡¯m kidding.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, I don''t think I give you enough credit for your contribution. You deserve more.


    Pathum: I have to confess I didn¡¯t have a bestie either. But now I can say you¡¯re my bestie.


    Scarlet: Not maybe. Surely.


    Pathum: I¡¯m glad to have met you. You¡¯re such a nice individual and I love talking to you.


    Scarlet: What do you think about me? Do you think I don''t love talking to you? There¡¯s nothing I love more than talking to you.


    Pathum: OH my sweetie, thank you so much for your kind words; they mean a lot. I¡¯m not exaggerating but it¡¯s the truth, I love it when someone praises me, but you¡¯re not just someone. You¡¯re everything for me. I¡¯m sorry, don¡¯t get me wrong but you¡¯re a very special friend to me.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re the only guy I talk to. Do you understand? I neither talk to guys nor give them credit. I just find you amazing, and you¡¯re a special friend to me as well.


    Afterwards I took some pictures of Mazie and I and sent them to him. He was over the moon.


    Pathum: OMG! You¡¯re so beautiful. I can¡¯t believe someone like you talks to me.


    Scarlet: Neither can I believe someone as handsome as you is talking to me.


    Pathum: Awwww, stop being so cute!


    Scarlet: Hehehe¡­¡­ I could say the same, sweet thing.


    Pathum: Are we flirting?


    Scarlet: Are we?


    Pathum: ABSOLUTELY NOT miss.


    Scarlet: TRUE, but then what are we doing?


    Pathum: We better ask God.


    Scarlet: Yes, we better.


    Pathum: So, what are you doing now?


    Scarlet: Guess it boy.


    Pathum: Flirting with old dudes, ain''t ya girl?


    Scarlet: Oops! How did you find out?


    Pathum: I have my eyes on you, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Oh boy, so tell me what are you doing?


    Pathum: Just spending time with my girlfriend.


    Scarlet: Girlfriend? Oh, okay.


    Pathum: Are you curious?


    Scarlet: No, why wouldn''t I be?


    Pathum: Hehe


    Scarlet: So tell me about your girlfriend?


    Pathum: What do you want to know? Do you want to know her name?


    Scarlet: Yes, tell me.


    Pathum: Her name is Miss Biology.


    Scarlet: OMG! Are you for real?


    Pathum: Yes, I am.


    Scarlet: So how did you fall in love, while she was teaching you biology?


    Pathum: While learning.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m surprised your teacher fell in love with you.


    Pathum: OMG, what are you talking about?


    Scarlet: About your teacher, Miss Biology.


    Pathum: OMG, Scarlet! NO NO NO!


    Scarlet: YES YES YES!


    Pathum: Sweetie, I¡¯m not in love with my Biology teacher. I¡¯m in love with the subject of Biology. I never will be in love with my teacher. How dare you jump to such conclusions!


    Scarlet: So what did you mean? Don''t you have a girlfriend?


    Pathum: I don''t, sweetie. I¡¯m in love with Biology hehe.


    Scarlet: AWWW, that''s cute.


    Pathum : Aww, sweetie.


    Scarlet: So, did you ever have a girlfriend?


    Pathum: I had one, but we were never lovers. We never held hands, kissed, or any of the things lovers do.


    Scarlet: But you still had one right?


    Pathum: Well, it was more like a crush. I never asked for her number but she liked me and that was it. I liked her too but as a friend.


    Scarlet: Why not?


    Pathum: Because I¡¯m socially awkward and have poor communication skills. So no girl wanted to stay with me. Who would want to be with a ugly stuttering fool like me?


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Scarlet: That¡¯s such a lie.


    Pathum: I wish sweetie. Hehe


    Scarlet: Stop telling yourself you¡¯re ugly. You¡¯re a handsome boy. Do you understand that sweetie?


    Pathum: Aww sweetie thank you so much for your words but I really am terrible when it comes to real-life communication skills. Even though I could type sweet messages, I couldn''t find myself talking when I¡¯m with someone.


    Scarlet: That¡¯s fine sweetie. But please just stop telling yourself that you¡¯re ugly.


    Pathum: But am I not?


    Scarlet: You¡¯re not sir.


    Pathum: Really?


    Scarlet: Truly.


    Pathum: Promise?


    Scarlet: I promise sweetie.


    Tears cascaded down my face. How am I anything close to handsome? Is she lying? But she¡¯s an innocent soul. She cannot be deceiving. I don''t believe that she would do such a thing.


    I¡¯ve seen enough of her to believe what she said but what I cannot believe is how could I be not ugly? She says that I look cute when I smile but I know it¡¯s far from the truth. I look horrible when I smile. I¡¯m not accusing her as a liar but I cannot believe I¡¯m anything but ugly.


    Pathum: So you''re telling me I look good in the mirror?


    Scarlet: You look good anywhere, sweetie.


    Pathum: Awww you¡¯re so sweet.


    Scarlet: Am I?


    Pathum: Yes. You¡¯re very sweet.


    Scarlet: So tell me.


    Pathum: Tell you about what sweetie?


    Scarlet: I was wondering why you would call me sweetie.


    Pathum: Because you call me sweetie.


    Scarlet: Does every girl get the favour of being called sweetie from you?


    Pathum: Just the cute innocent ones.


    Scarlet: Aww you know how to touch a girl''s heart, don''t you?


    Pathum: Honestly, I do nothing but talk, sweetie.


    Scarlet:  I know that sweetie.


    Pathum: You better, my girl.


    Scarlet: Did you just call me your girl? Well..


    Pathum: OMG sweetie I was just trying to be funny. I didn''t mean anything bad by it.


    Scarlet: Let¡¯s say I believe that.


    Pathum: Did you just say that? You¡¯re a good girl. Don¡¯t be naughty, okay?


    Scarlet: I can be naughty if you want me to.


    Pathum: Seriously, Scarlet what¡¯s wrong?


    Scarlet: I¡¯m joking.


    Pathum: Let¡¯s say I believe that.


    Scarlet: Oh you did not just say that.


    Pathum: I just did. What are you going to do about it?


    Scarlet: Well, don¡¯t think I¡¯m just going to do nothing.


    Pathum: Hey, I¡¯m going to have dinner, but I¡¯ll be back soon.


    Scarlet: Okay, sweetie, go for it.


    Pathum: Thank you.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t thank me sweetie. Just go eat.


    So I came to the kitchen, washed my hands and started to eat in my room. Soon my mom joined me. She smiled at me before opening her mouth to speak.


    ¡°So did Scarlet talk to you today?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said.


    ¡°What did she say?¡±


    I shrugged.


    ¡°Nothing really. We just talked.¡±


    My mom nodded as she rested her chin on her hands.


    ¡°Did she send you pictures of her?¡±


    ¡°She did. I¡¯ll show them to you once I¡¯m done eating,¡± I said.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she nodded.


    Soon I was done eating, so I washed my plate and my hands but the strong, spicy smell of curry wouldn¡¯t be removed by water as usual. So I used dish soap. Even though that soap can¡¯t be used on skin, I used it to wash my hands. I was frequently advised not to use that type of soap on my skin, but I¡¯m too lazy to go to my room to retrieve my hand soap.


    ¡°How many times have I told you not to use that dish soap to wash your hands?¡± my mom sighed while washing her plate.


    ¡°The smell of curry won''t disappear with water,¡± I replied in defence.


    ¡°When someone advises you not to to do something, think for a while of what they meant okay?¡± Mom slowly raised her voice.


    ¡°Okay, son. When someone tells you not to do something, make sure you don¡¯t do it,¡± Mom said, slowly raising her voice. ¡°Okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay. Whatever.¡± I stormed to my room without looking at my mom.


    It was rude of me to ignore her, but I didn''t mean to hurt her. It was just that my emotions got the best out of it. She entered my room after washing her hands.


    ¡°How many times did I tell you not to wipe your hands off on this door curtain?¡± she asked, pointing towards the curtain on the door of my room.


    I wipe my hands not on the cloth that¡¯s in the kitchen but on the door curtain. Because I do that constantly, it eventually became distorted and ugly.


    But why would I not wash my hands from the towel in the kitchen? Everyone wipes their hands on that cloth and I don¡¯t want to touch that.


    I dislike getting in contact with something that has been touched by many people. Don¡¯t you feel uncomfortable to wipe your clean hands with a germ contaminated cloth?


    My door cloth doesn¡¯t differ much but at least I¡¯m the only one who touches it. So why am I being punished for that?


    My mom snapped me out of my thoughts by sitting close to me, peering at my computer.


    ¡°Now, show me,¡± she stated.


    I gave her a confused look.


    ¡°Show you what?¡±


    ¡°Scarlet¡¯s pictures.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any,¡± I said not looking into her eyes.


    Didn¡¯t I admit earlier I had some?


    I don''t understand myself.


    ¡°Oh, keep that woman to yourself. I don¡¯t need her anyway,¡± my mom said and went to her side of the bed while I moved to my side..


    While I browsed through Wattpad, my mom watched her drama shows on YouTube. She loves watching Korean dramas. She laughed at her show before sighing. I hated myself for snapping at my mom. But it¡¯s too late to change my past actions. I already hurt her.


    But why did I suddenly get angry? I cannot do this to anyone anymore. Please understand me, mom. I love you more than what my mouth portrays.


    ¡°Aren''t you going to text her?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not texting anyone now,¡± I said, my anger rising once again even if I didn''t want it to.


    ¡°Whatever. Just sleep now. You can talk to her in the morning,¡± she said, dismissing my tone before switching off her phone and adjusting her pillows.


    She went to sleep, but I pulled up my Hangouts app and sent Scarlet a short  message.


    Pathum: I¡¯m done eating sweetie.


    She responded within a minute or two.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m done too. Hehe


    Pathum: Girl, don''t eat too much. You¡¯ll be bigger.


    Scarlet: Good. Then I could smash you. Hehe


    Pathum: Exactly! Sweet girl.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m not going to hurt you, sweetie.


    Pathum: Aww you¡¯re something, aren¡¯t you?


    Scarlet: Aww thanks sweetie. Sp, tell me how was your dinner? Did you eat a lot?


    Pathum: I ate as much as I could to lift you.


    Scarlet: You wish.


    Pathum: Hey, I can lift alright?


    Scarlet: Such a pity darling, you could try.


    Pathum: I will lift you.


    Scarlet: Okay, darling, I believe you.


    Pathum: Hehehe


    Scarlet: You¡¯re so cute.


    Pathum: Thank you sweetie. So tell me how was your new uncle? Does he make you happy?


    Scarlet: Who the heck are you talking about?


    Pathum: The mention of him makes you mad, doesn¡¯t it?


    Scarlet: I don''t know who you are talking about.


    Pathum: He has commented on your book and left many messages on your feed. But I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s none of my business and I¡¯m sorry for bringing him in the conversation.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t be sorry. I just want to forget about him but when you brought him up, it stirred up everything, you know?


    Pathum: I know and I¡¯m sorry for that. If you want to tell me about it, just let me know.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m hurt sweetie. That man was talking trash about me and my family.


    Pathum: Tell me everything that happened. I¡¯ll listen.


    Scarlet: Okay. So as you saw, this guy started to comment on my book and on my message feed saying I was beautiful and mature for my age and stuff you could always imagine to be good. At first I thought it was compliments and I took it as such but it all changed when he started to ask for my number. He then began saying that he likes me more than he could describe.


    Pathum: It must have been terrible. I¡¯m sorry for everything you''ve been through and me stirring it up. It was wrong of me to do that.


    Scarlet: You don¡¯t have to be sorry sweetie; you didn¡¯t do anything wrong. But I haven¡¯t told you everything. I don¡¯t know whether I could say it. I doubt I have the strength, Pathum.


    Pathum: Sweetie, I¡¯m sorry for bringing the conversation. I did something that I shouldn''t have done. Let¡¯s just forget about it.


    Scarlet: NO! Sweetie, we cannot forget it like it never existed. I have to take it out of my mind.


    Pathum: Tell me anything and I¡¯ll listen to you.


    Scarlet: I know that you will.


    Pathum: Go ahead sweetie.


    Scarlet: So as I said he began with giving compliments to my beauty and later on he started to have feelings towards my body and he confessed that. I didn''t mind but he kept saying things, showing me how much he cares for me, and how he wanted me in his life and eventually he stirred up things. He then started to point out my family¡¯s mistakes. I told him to stop in the beginning but he didn¡¯t want to. So I had to end that chapter. I hope you understand what I¡¯m saying sweetie.


    Pathum: Sweetie, I understand. Okay? And I¡¯m here if you need me.


    Scarlet: That''s an immense solace, Pathum. I didn''t tell my family about this. Just you and some other friends know, but you were the one I went onto to explain the details to.


    Pathum: Do you feel liberated?


    Scarlet: Yes.


    Pathum: I''m glad.


    Scarlet: So sweetie, what are we going to do?


    Pathum: Talk, I guess hehe.


    Scarlet: Hey, I haven''t seen your mother. Can I see you both?


    Pathum: OMG. Are you talking about us both being in a picture?


    Scarlet: Yes, sweetie. I want to see you both in the same picture.


    Pathum: I¡¯m so sorry. I can¡¯t make that wish come true.


    Scarlet: And why can¡¯t you?


    Pathum: Because we don¡¯t have a picture we¡¯re both in.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re kidding me, right?


    Pathum: Why would I, sweetie?


    Scarlet: Well, can¡¯t we just make wishes come true?


    Pathum: Oh, can we?


    Scarlet: Yes, we can.


    Pathum: Honestly I feel bad now.


    Scarlet: You don¡¯t have to, sweetie.


    Pathum: But sweetie-


    Scarlet: No ¡°buts¡±, sweetie. If you don''t have a picture of you both that''s fine. All you must do to make my wish come true is take one and send it to me. Do you understand?


    Pathum: Yes, ma¡¯am.


    Scarlet: Good boy. Now as I say.


    Pathum: You¡¯ll have to wait until morning.


    Scarlet: Okay, that¡¯s fine. I can wait all day.


    Afterwards I fell into slumber but I was woken up in the morning by my mother when my tea was ready. I quickly washed my face, getting ready to drink the tea.


    Remembering what Scarlet said I told my mom and discussed a time where we would be able to capture one and it was scheduled for the night cause there wasn¡¯t any free time in the day. It was an exciting day. Anxious because I have to wait until night arrived. It was exciting because mom and I were about to take a picture together.


    We may have taken pictures when I was little but once reaching teenage years I don''t remember a single day where we were together for a picture. And does that explain everything about our love? Of course not, I love my mom more than anyone in this world but at the same time I don''t have a picture which included her on one side. It isn¡¯t because there wasn¡¯t any love between us it was because we both were not fond of photography. Neither of us were photogenic or something of that sort or in other terms we didn''t take pictures to express our love at all.


    Our story is just not always sweet. We¡¯ve had difficult times and most of our time we didn¡¯t go on trips. So that was also why we don''t have enough pictures. But no excuses. I felt ashamed that I didn''t have a picture with my mom.


    But at the same time I didn''t feel that embarrassed as well cause I don¡¯t have that many pictures of myself as well. Except snapshots that I took for profile pictures. And also I had pictures that I took with my friends. I wasn¡¯t a huge fan of having more friends yet I had more pictures of them. But I HAD NO PICTURES with my mother.


    Humiliation, frustration and sadness crossed my heart.


    I should¡¯ve taken more pictures with my mom than with my friends. The fact I have fewer pictures of my mom disappoints me but that''s okay. On the other side I don¡¯t have that many pictures with my friends either. But that doesn''t matter. I love her more than I love my friends.


    It has been that case all the time I loved her the most but did I spend my time showing it? We¡¯ll have one tonight.


    The thought delighted me.


    Once dinner was over, it was time for the photograph. Since I ate food, my body is heated. I don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s because of the amount I consumed or how spicy the food was.


    But I brushed my teeth and washed my face with my mom¡¯s face wash. Scrubbing and rinsing away all the dirt.


    Mom on the other hand had spent her time applying makeup. It was a huge difference in our approach for a picture.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± I asked lifting the phone above my face.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Mom said, biting her lip and smiling.


    I opened my mouth and showed my ugly irregularly placed teeth.


    ¡°Behave child,¡± Mom said tapping my head making both of us laugh.


    ¡°Okay, mother.¡±


    We took the picture but then soon put them into trash. We took some other pictures while both smiling. They didn''t look good so I chose to delete them. Even though this picture isn''t for the royal palace or a competition we still valued how we look, although that generates many debates that we shouldn''t judge based on looks. Well at the moment the judgement is based on looks so we proceeded to seek perfection in an imperfect world.


    The first five minutes were spent arguing about which pose would look better and which angle is best. But soon we stopped and decided to take a picture despite how it looked. When we captured the perfect one we exchanged hands of who''s holding the phone when taking pictures. Even though I suck at finger gestures I deliberately did so. Well what I was trying to say was when you pose for a picture you usually show signs with your fingers right? Well, I suck at such impressions. But I managed to capture a good picture with my thumbs up.


    After taking half a dozen pictures, we decided to send the three perfect images to Scarlet which prompted a quick response from her.


    Scarlet: OMG!


    Pathum: I know. They¡¯re horrible. I¡¯m sorry.


    Scarlet: Shut up.


    Pathum: Umm.. sorry..


    Scarlet: God, your mother¡¯s so young and beautiful.


    Pathum : Aww thank you so much. She¡¯s beautiful but I...


    Scarlet: Shut up boy. I¡¯m just looking for the right words to describe how handsome her son is.


    Pathum: I-


    Scarlet: I¡¯m going to show this to my mom and sis. Gimme a minute.


    A minute felt like an hour, but in the midst of everything my cheeks grew redder when mom asked how she reacted. My cheeks heated even more the further I explained what Scarlet said. But soon she was back.


    Scarlet: They loved your mother but they think you¡¯re a bit too much to be¡­


    Pathum: A bit too much to be what?

 Chapter 7

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    ¡°A bit too much to be human,¡± I wrote on the screen, crying overjoyed tears.


    I was unable to believe that I said such a cold line to him, I gave him a heart attack. Even though I said it three days ago, I still remember now. With a smile plastered on my face I fell into slumber.


    Later, I woke up to some beautiful messages from Pathum. I love how he always leaves me such sweet messages when I go to sleep to find when I wake up. I feel so lucky. How can I not be grateful for him right? When you have to go to sleep with happiness and then when you have to wake up to happiness. What more could I have asked for from God?


    I just can¡¯t believe I have a friend like him. He¡¯s so sweet, caring, and most importantly, he¡¯s different from the other guys I met online. I don¡¯t know what it is but he¡¯s a special person to me, and just behaves so well. Maybe I¡¯m lost in his world or I praise him much more than he deserves. But I doubt he deserves less praise, he deserves more than I ever give him.


    I got out of bed, and saw that Mazie was still asleep, so I didn¡¯t bother waking her up. I went into the kitchen where my mom and sister were cooking breakfast. I wanted to tell them about my bestie. They knew I was hiding something, judging by their suspicious looks at my amused smiles whenever I was on my phone talking to Pathum.


    Entering the room, Abigail and mom was already busy talking about something but at when they saw me, they stopped and then glanced at each other.


    ¡°Did I interrupt something?¡± I asked turning on the faucet and washing my hands. Once I was done I dried them and started to make myself some hot tea.


    ¡°Well, no. What do you want to know about it?¡± Abigail asked.


    I was quick to respond with, ¡°Everything.¡±


    This made her giggle at me.


    ¡°Who taught you that? Was it him?¡±


    Mom raised her brows at her before glancing at me while I poured tea into my mug. I then slowly brought the cup to my lips and blew on it without answering them, which made them to jump into conclusions, without further notice Abigail spill it out.


    ¡°Looks like he has made some impact on your life already,¡± she said but I cannot comprehend whether it was a question or a statement.


    ¡°Is that a bad thing?¡± I raised my brows sassily.


    Our mom glared at me slightly, her eyes narrowed.


    ¡°Watch that tongue of yours!¡± she snapped while putting some vegetables in a bowl.


    ¡°Give me a break. Why does it always has to be me?¡± I asked.


    They stopped what they were doing and focused on my lips. I couldn''t stop the quivering of my lips while tears slowly formed on my eyes but they didn¡¯t betray me so I was able to hold them. The silence lasted until they dried.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s with your emotions lately?¡± Mom crossed her arms and threw daggers from her eyes while Abigail was glancing at us.


    I, of course, had a witty reply ready on my lips.


    ¡°What¡¯s with your accusing lately? Oh, I¡¯m sorry it wasn¡¯t just recently, it was always. Can you provide me a reason as to why you¡¯re accusing me of everything for the past seventeen years and haven¡¯t never brothered to question Abigail?¡±


    I sipped my tea mixed with my tears in it. It made it taste odd.


    Afterwards I walked towards the sink to wash the cup. All the while, Mom and Abigail didn¡¯t say a single word. I put the mug in the cupboard and walked to my room, slamming the door behind me. It made a loud noise waking Mazie.


    She was over the moon seeing me even if she woke up from a deep slumber. But I, on the other hand was over on the bed shedding tears.


    Was I wrong about what I said? I spoke facts and they were silent because they knew from the bottom of their hearts I spoke the truth and they couldn¡¯t decipher my words to oppose me.


    I wrapped my sheets around me and sobbed. Mazie came over to me and jumped onto the bed beside me as I hid my face in her fur. I couldn¡¯t let her go.


    It was barely eight so the sun was out but nevertheless I liked the warmth from the blankets. I let out a sigh because there was nothing I could do against the cold hearted behavior I received from my mom and Abigail. I guess God has His way of teaching us lessons but I couldn¡¯t comprehend the meaning of my suffering from them hating me.


    What¡¯s the lesson? How could God let us go through these things?


    Right then my mom started calling Mazie from the kitchen. Removing the blanket I let go of her. She jumped to the floor and exited the room while I folded my arms closing my eyes and started to pray.


    Please God, show them the meaning of love.


    I prayed as I heard a few quiet knocks on my door but I ignored them, only opening my eyes when I was finished. When my gaze focused, I saw my dad standing there, looking down at me. His eyes shone with sadness. I pushed the sheets off and sat up, motioning for him to sit on the bed.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he asked.


    I shook my head in disbelief that he wouldn¡¯t have already known. But he pressed on by repeating the question. I tried my best to make sure I wouldn¡¯t choke on my words but failed. His affection broadened when tears started to flow from my eyes, and his hug only made matters worse. But I didn¡¯t mind shedding tears in front of him, there¡¯s no shame in it.


    ¡°I was reminded of something that happened thirteen years agp. It was your fourth birthday, and we invited some of our family over to enjoy the party. You were with your mom and Abigail while watching my friend on the trampoline. You then asked to jump on it and your mom disagreed but Abigail pleaded with your mom for a few minutes. But that¡¯s when that man, who was drunk, ruined the party. He kept drinking more even when we told him not to and suddenly  he jumped onto the trampoline while you were still on it. He knocked you unconscious before falling to the ground. We took you to the clinic and it was horrible until the doctors told us you were going to be alright. And when the effects of alcohol wore off, he begged me for forgiveness. It wasn¡¯t difficult to forgive him but I couldn¡¯t forgive myself for allowing alcohol at parties after that. Our hearts stopped functioning when you flew so high-¡±


    I stopped him in the middle of the sentence while wiping my tears.


    ¡°Why does any of that matter?¡±


    He took a deep breath and locked his blue eyes on mine. We shared the same eye color. Was her indifference coming as a result of me not sharing the same eye color as them?


    That was a weird thought.


    ¡°If you¡¯re wondering why they act the way they act, it¡¯s because we made a promise to protect you at all costs and if that meant being cold to you, then so be it,¡± he said, keeping his smile on his face, but I couldn¡¯t hide my frown.


    I sighed, and rubbed my eyes, tired.


    ¡®¡¯When will this end, Dad?¡±


    He shook his head, looking unsure.


    ¡®¡¯I don¡¯t know. But you need to understand they care for you, and they only became cold hearted because of that day. You¡¯re our angel and we don¡¯t want to hurt you, sweet thing.¡±


    The words shook my mind and I felt numb. So that was the beginng of everything? But the fact my dad called me an angel and addressed me as sweet thing for the first time didn¡¯t go unnoticed because the next moment I hugged him. Why don¡¯t I see him in this mood more often? Why can¡¯t he be like this with them too? Why does everything happen the way it happens? I don¡¯t know.


    Why is he cold to them like they are to me? Is it just a cycle of hatred or anger? Just taking the anger on a lesser substantial individual by a higher individual? And does dad hate them because they hate me and if so am I the reason for every problem? Or aren''t I the reason for everything?


    Realization stuck to my heart as the cold wrapped around me once I let go of him. Wiping my tears he kissed me on the forehead. I pray to God if that deed didn¡¯t melt my heart then I''m a cold hearted fish. Well accurately a bitch! Pardon my language.


    Love is sometimes tough to have and bitter to live with.


    ¡°Now, go apologize sweet thing,¡± he said.


    I could hardly refuse his offer not because of the way he asked but of the way he explained everything to me. How could they hide that from me? I know nothing but to go apologize.


    Abigail and our mom were staring at each other when I walked back into the kitchen, and the silence intensified when I hugged them.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mom,¡± I said looking at mom and then at my sister. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Abigail.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all good dear,¡± mom said caressing my hair. It reminded me of one thing, we all shared the same hair. I never noticed it before. Even if I had, the thought had never occurred to me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I repeated not being able to control my tears from falling.


    Mom looked at me with concern written across her face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what your dad said, but it has affected you,¡± mom said.


    ¡°True,¡± Abigail agreed walking close to me.


    She lowered her head to kiss my forehead. A shiver went through my spine cause that kiss wasn¡¯t expected.


    She¡¯s a few inches taller than me, we look like twins from a distance. Tears started cascading down my cheeks as her lips touched my forehead.


    ¡°Well, he talked about what happened on my fourth birthday..¡± As the words escaped my mouth their expressions changed. Reminiscing that past might have brought forth memories that ought to not be remembered. I captured their expressions and it told me many stories.


    Mom was the first to speak.


    ¡°What did he tell you exactly?¡±


    I quickly answered.


    ¡°Everything that ought to be said mom.¡±


    Abigail glanced at me and my dad, who had followed me from my room, was standing at the door, silently watching the scene play out.


    ¡°And what¡¯s that exactly?¡± she asked.


    ¡°That you two love me more than what your cold behavior implies,¡± I said smiling.


    ¡®¡¯Is that so dad?¡± Abigail asked.


    Mom looked at Dad, who was smiling at us. After a long time, our family is united, and guess who¡¯s the reason? Well I¡¯m not going to get the credit for it. Shouldn¡¯t I say something good about myself? All this time I¡¯ve been preaching ill will towards my mind.


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t we going to have breakfast?¡± dad asked breaking the silence.


    Mom looked at each of us and nodded before we sat down at our table and mom and Abigail held hands as we thanked God for our meal. Dad stayed quiet, allowing us to pray. He never held hands with us when we pray.


    While we were eating, we didn¡¯t talk much but I saw glances between mother and Abigail. Abigail was making faces at her making Mom throw daggers from her eyes at her. She didn¡¯t seem fazed though. I could tell because of her constant giggling. It was making me suspicious.


    ¡°What¡¯s with you both?¡± I asked Abigail.


    ¡°Nothing!¡± mom said instantly.


    Even if Abigail opened her mouth to respond she couldn¡¯t say it as she wanted since Mom was quicker. So I repeated the question.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I just tell you it was nothing?¡± Mom asked.


    Abigail rolled her eyes and I narrowed mine in suspicion. Something¡¯s going on with them.


    ¡°Guess I wouldn¡¯t have to tell it anyway.¡± I stood up and then my sister screamed. My eyes darted to her immediately. ¡°Please share what¡¯s with you guys,¡± I smirked.


    She turned to look at mom and got a nod as a response.


    ¡°We were wondering how your friend in Sri Lanka is doing?¡± Abigail asked while shifting her head towards me.


    ¡°He¡¯s fine. We talk almost every day,¡± I said smiling. I wasn¡¯t blushing but my cheeks got hotter.


    ¡°Almost every day or every day?¡± Abigail asked closing her mouth with one hand.


    I gave her a sheepish look.


    ¡°Okay, fine. Every day.¡±


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    My mom and Abigail rolled their eyes, but they were both smiling with amusement.


    ¡°Oh, we knew that already.¡±


    I cocked my head to the side.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    Abigail looked at me, a slight smirk on her face.


    ¡°Just an observation.¡±


    My eyes narrowed as I finished eating breakfast.


    ¡°And what kind of observation are you talking about?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Like stalking, hacking etc.¡±


    My eyes widened in shock, and Abigail, seeing the look on my face, tried to backpedal, not looking at me in the process. Mom did the same. Abigail was covering her mouth, but a few words escaped.


    ¡°Oops!¡±


    I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at her in suspicion. I felt like I was a detective interrogating a guilty criminal.


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an oops, I didn¡¯t know,¡± Abigail grumbled.


    I raised both my hands in surrender to which Abigail had an amused yet confused expression on her face. Mom watched us, cracking up from laughter.


    ¡°So, is Pathum the only one you talk to, or do you have any other friends?¡± she asked, wiping her mouth.


    ¡°He isn¡¯t.¡±


    Mom nodded.


    ¡°Okay. Well, I¡¯m glad you have some new friends sweetie.¡±


    I smiled, a faint blush still on my cheeks.


    ¡°I know, and thank you, mom.¡±


    ¡°But what¡¯s there to talk about with a stranger like him?¡± mom said raising her brows.


    ¡°He¡¯s not a stranger; he¡¯s my bestie,¡± I said and it took me a few seconds to understand that they stopped moving and looked at me.


    I wished I had better control over my mouth.


    ¡°We have some talking to do, Scarlet,¡± Mom said, grabbing the plates and leaving us in an awkward silence. She returned with a huge smile in Abigail¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Didn''t I tell you she was talking to a guy, Abigail?¡±


    ¡°Well it''s not like I didn''t guess it. It was me who said that even though afterwards I took back my words.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear Lord, I¡¯m the winner!¡± mom laughed loudly while dad and I exchanged confused glances before Dad got up and left abruptly.


    ¡°Can anyone please explain what''s going on?¡± I asked after he was gone.


    Their smiles faded for a moment before brightening up again.


    ¡°Well it''s about your bestie sweetie.¡±


    I gave her a really confused look.


    ¡°What''s with him?¡±


    Mom smiled shyly.


    ¡°We were arguing about his status in your life and we guessed it right.¡±


    ¡°Technically it was me,¡± Abigail said, dancing around the room.


    ¡°But I deduced it with proof,¡± Mom added as she crossed her arms and raised her head.


    I laughed in disbelief.


    ¡°So that''s why you¡¯ve been giggling?¡± I asked with my hands on my hips.


    ¡°Yes, my Lady,¡± Abigail lowered her head and bowed.


    I leaped right onto her before mom grabbed me, touched my cheek, and ordered me to tell them everything, which I did. I talked about the pictures and the way Pathum reacts to them, about his insecurity and also plunging into the bestie conversation and how grateful I was to have him as such.


    Their faces glowed with every positive note I told about him. They were listening to me like kids who were told to be silent in return for candy. When I was done, Mom spoke up first.


    ¡°Lucky you!¡±


    Meanwhile, Abigail was jumping up and down in her seat, bursting with excitement. Why are they so strange? They behave like kids, I haven''t snagged a glimpse of this demeanor from them since my fourth birthday I guess


    ¡°Ooooo, did ya video chat with him?¡± Abigail asked me suddenly, to which I just shook my head saying,


    ¡°Not yet. I¡®d thought about it but I¡¯ve never gotten the chance to ask him. Maybe soon it¡¯ll come true.¡±


    ¡°Show me the pictures of him. I haven''t gotten a good idea of what he looks like,¡± Abigail declared.


    I took my phone to open the Photo app. My mom and sister had interesting reactions to him earlier. Her eyes lit up with joy when she saw them.


    ¡°Aw! He¡¯s cute. No wonder you love him so much,¡± Abigail laughed.


    I smirked and nodded happily.


    ¡°I told ya. He¡¯s my bestie! And I love him.¡±


    Mom raised an unimpressed  eyebrow at me. She didn¡¯t believe me when I say that I¡¯m just friends with Pathum. She thinks that more is going on.


    ¡°Just the bestie, huh?¡±


    I rolled my eyes before pocketing my phone.


    ¡°OMG, yes, but he¡¯s a very special person to me.¡± Those beautiful words escaped my mouth, and I¡¯m glad I spoke right about him.


    Glancing at the clock, I saw it was 9 am. There was still enough heat from the sun to be exposed. So why not go get some vitamin D?


    Walking outside, I captured a few snapshots of the sun and lovely flowers and a picture of me and Mazie. Those will soon be delivered to Sri Lanka. After walking a couple feet, I entered the house, and went into my room to text him.


    Scarlet: Hey Pathum, I have a serious burden to solve, and I need a quick remedy.


    Pathum: I¡¯ll be at your service ma¡¯am. What¡¯s bothering you?


    Scarlet: Well nothing¡¯s bothering me but I still think I need a solution to my problem.


    Pathum: If something isn¡¯t bothering you then what¡¯s your fear?


    Scarlet: I¡¯m scared that you¡¯ll deny it.


    Pathum: Deny what? Scarlet, be specific, I¡¯m not going to judge you; I¡¯m not a monster.


    Scarlet: I know that you¡¯re not, but you are a brat.


    Pathum: Exactly so tell me.


    Scarlet: What do you want to know specifically?


    Pathum: Are you going to tell me or not?


    Scarlet: NOPE! I¡¯m not going to say anything. So what are you going to do about it?


    Pathum: Scarlet, don¡¯t test my patience.


    Scarlet: Oops!


    Pathum: Don¡¯t you dare say that stupid word again.


    Scarlet: OOPS!


    Pathum: Oh please don¡¯t do that. My anger is rising from its ashes.


    Scarlet: How angry are you?


    Pathum : You can light a candle from my butt, because it¡¯s on fire.


    Scarlet: OMG!! Stop. I¡¯ll be good.


    Pathum: Ok. So back to the topic. Tell me what¡¯s bothering you or what are you scared of?


    Scarlet: Well, never mind.


    Pathum: Tell me darling.


    Scarlet: Are you sure?


    Pathum: 100%


    Scarlet: How many candles can we light up from your butt?


    Pathum: Enough to take you to Mars.


    Scarlet: So you butt is a pumping machine that pumps air for balloons?


    Pathum: What¡¯s wrong with you? Is your hormone level higher than usual? I don''t understand girls.


    Scarlet: You devil. Hehe


    Pathum: What¡¯s with your butt?


    Scarlet: Nothing. Why?


    Pathum: Because I feel strange talking to you. This butt topic is weird.


    Scarlet: Isn¡¯t it your favorite thing?


    Pathum: Oh my goodness. Watch your mouth, brat!


    Scarlet: Hehehe!


    Pathum: Okay. Back to the original topic. Seriously, tell me what¡¯s wrong?


    Scarlet: Everything¡¯s fine sweetie. I just wanted to ask you whether you¡¯re up for a video call or not. It doesn¡¯t have to be today, it could be any day that you¡¯re comfortable.


    Pathum: Is that why you were scared? You¡¯re so innocent.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m not so innocent.


    Pathum: Of course you aren¡¯t but we don¡¯t need to go there. Nevertheless you¡¯re innocent in some ways.


    Scarlet: Weren¡¯t you saying I¡¯m not earlier and now you say I am.


    Pathum: Forget it. I never thought about this video call thing. It must be exciting.


    Scarlet: Okay! So why not try it out?


    Pathum: Good idea but..


    Scarlet: Here comes the butt again.


    Pathum: I look horrible on video chat.


    Scarlet: Oh, boy, here we go with this lying crap again. Stop that, will you?


    Pathum: But¡­


    Scarlet: There¡¯s no but to it. You¡¯re perfect the way you are. You said the same about your photos and guess what those pictures you were fantastic. You were so handsome. So for God¡¯s sake, please stop belittling yourself.


    Pathum: Aww sweetie! Thank you so much for your kind words.


    Scarlet: Stop thanking me and accept what I¡¯m saying.


    Pathum: Okay sweetie.


    Scarlet : NO! Say you¡¯re handsome, or I won¡¯t talk to you.


    Pathum: I¡¯m bloody ugly.


    I don¡¯t understand why does he blame himself like this? Whatever it was, I¡¯m not going to let him do this anymore.


    So I didn¡¯t respond to him but after fifteen minutes I got another text from him.


    Pathum: I¡¯m a handsome king.


    But even after reading the text, I still didn¡¯t respond.


    Pathum: OKAY SWEETIE I¡¯M THE MOST HANDSOME MAN ON THIS PLANET. HAPPY NOW?


    I was unable to control my laughter after reading his text in all caps, but I took a deep breath, and waited for another one.


    Pathum:  Come on man, get out of that butt right now.


    I cracked up laughing so loud Mazie woke from her slumber and glared at me.


    Scarlet: BRAT!


    Pathum: HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE


    Scarlet: OMG I can¡¯t stop laughing. You¡¯re too much sweetie.


    Pathum: And you¡¯re too innocent.


    Scarlet: Aww!


    Pathum: Wow, are we going to video call or not, ma¡¯am?


    Scarlet: OMG! I almost forgot, so who¡¯s going to start the call?


    Pathum: Oh God just now? I need time to prepare.


    Scarlet: What do you have to do?


    Pathum: Seriously? I need time sweetie, I¡¯m not good at this stuff.


    Scarlet: Okay. Take all the time you need.


    Pathum: Do you really need to take the call today?


    Scarlet: No. We can postpone it if you¡¯re busy.


    Pathum: No sweetie, I¡¯m not; I¡¯m just so scared, I¡®m shaking.


    Scarlet: Aww just calm down.


    Pathum: I don''t know how. I can''t even type. My hands are quivering so bad. How stupid of me to think that I could even talk. I''m so ashamed.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, stop blaming yourself and calm down.


    Pathum: My mom¡¯s here too, so I''m nervous to make the call.


    Scarlet: Can you leave your room? Or we could wait until she leaves for hers.


    Pathum: We have a single room. Either I move outside or we just call anyway.


    Scarlet: Omg so what are you going to do?


    Pathum: I guess I have to call you anyway.


    Scarlet: Are you ready for it?


    Pathum: I¡¯m not.


    Scarlet: Well we can talk about something else. Don¡¯t worry about the call.


    Pathum: No, sweetie. You were so excited to talk so we would definitely talk tonight and why not right now?


    Scarlet: It''s your call sweetie.


    Pathum: Let''s do it now.


    Scarlet: Are you sure?


    Pathum: 100%


    He says he''s a hundred percent ready but he doesn''t act like so. It''s very cute of him to behave like that. Anyway I clicked on the video call button and it started to ring.


    My heart started to beat faster with every ring and it rang like ten times before cancelling. It wasn''t an astonishment. He said his mom was in the room and that he was scared. So what more could I expect from him?


    A second later he sent a message saying how sorry he felt for not answering.


    And this time before I clicked on the icon my phone rang, he was the first to take the call. Now it''s my turn to be amazed. I don''t know why but it took five seconds to shake me out of my thoughts so that I could answer the call.


    I took a deep breath when I got a glimpse of him. But it wasn¡¯t clear due to poor connectivity.


    But still, I got so excited that I started squealing. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s excited, too, and he looks like he still needs time to get ready. Awwww¡­. Isn¡¯t he cute? So, I didn''t ask any questions but kept smiling. For some reason I couldn''t seem to hide my smile just looking at this boy.


    On the other side of the camera, he was hiding his face in embarrassment. I don''t know why but he doesn''t look like he relishes in taking video calls. Oh God, is he trying to get rid of me?


    I said ¡°Hi¡± while he managed to smile but yet hid his face. Oh my God, why is he so shy? I cannot ask any questions because it would put him in an uncomfortable zone. He still has to open his mouth. Now I know how he looks but still I¡¯m eager to listen to his voice. But boy he doesn''t speak.


    OMG sweetie, why aren''t you speaking? I thought.


    The thought turned into words which flew out of my mouth. I shut my mouth with one hand but it was too late. He heard it.


    Why did I said that?


    My cheeks got hot; I could see from the camera that they¡¯re redder and this also means he gets to see my blush. Quickly I turned my phone in my mom¡¯s direction who looked confused, and after observing for a few moments she realised what''s going on.


    ¡°Oh my God, he¡¯s cute, but why isn¡¯t he speaking?¡± she whispered.


    He started to murmur which made us giggle and after a moment of silence¡­


    ¡°Hi,¡± he said bashfully.


    My mom squealed and grabbed my phone from me, gushing over him.


    ¡°Hi dear. How are you?¡±


    ¡°I- umm I- I¡¯m fine,¡± he replied before hiding his face.


    We laughed at his stuttering. He¡¯s cute, his looks cute as well as he behaves cute.


    Nevertheless I love his Sri Lankan accent. I haven¡¯t heard one before and here I am, witnessing a sweet moment.


    ¡°Are you going to keep hiding your face Pathum?¡± I asked.


    His smile got even wider when I said his name. I don''t think I said it wrong cause all he offered me was his beautiful smile. He didn''t say a word but shook his head and murmured. I love his shyness. It must be the first time he¡¯s talking to a girl. Maybe that or maybe he¡¯s scared by what he sees on his screen.


    Mom left, so it was me and him. And all he managed to say was, ¡°Hey, how are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I''m good, what about you sweetie?¡± at the mention of the word sweetie his smile widened, but he made sure the camera wasn¡¯t focused on him.


    The image wasn¡¯t clear but by the look of it was a female and judging by what he said earlier, I assumed it was his mother. He then redirected the phone back to him, but all I could see was the roof. He still wasn¡¯t showing his face.


    For the next five minutes all that we did was stare at each other. I cannot believe this is the same person who chats with me every day. But when it comes to talking with the mouth, it¡¯s too slow compared to how much fast he is at typing. I cannot put the blame on him because even I had no idea what to ask him.


    We stared at each other until the call ended suddenly.


    But soon my phone flooded with messages. They were apologies for his behavior. I had to put a stop to them immediately.


    Scarlet: Stop blaming yourself sweetie. Take it easy now that it¡¯s over.


    Pathum: I¡¯m going to do a voice call because I have to tell you something important. Please answer.

 Chapter 8

    Pathum POV


    I FREAKING HATE MYSELF. Ugh. I should¡¯ve talked to her better than that. Oh, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll never call me again. I don¡¯t know what she was thinking but surely she might just tell me that I¡¯m cute like she usually does.


    But that¡¯s a total lie because how in the world can I be cute when I stutter and constantly hide my face from her? There are so many things I wish I had done instead but now it¡¯s too late to go back and change it.


    Meanwhile, my mom left the room once I focused the camera on her. She looked like she was holding back tears.


    What the heck was I thinking? I scratched my head, confused, and started to shiver.


    Why did I fail to show her that I can speak? I never act the way I wanted to act.


    Well, pardon me, but it wasn¡¯t an act; it was how I was in real life. I don¡¯t understand why my behaviour was so bad. Why am I constantly blaming myself for things?


    I¡¯m still shivering from nervousness even though it has been a few minutes since I hung up the phone with her. I wonder what she could possibly be thinking now. Is she upset and thinking that I intentionally left her?


    I never wanted to do such a thing. It was just that I ended the call because I couldn¡¯t get the strength to talk. I couldn¡¯t face her like a real man. I should be ashamed of myself for not being able to handle this. Why on Earth did I do that? I have thousands of questions but none I couldn¡¯t find any answers to.


    So, with now-shaking fingers, I managed to type out an apology to her for my behaviour. That was the only thing I could do at this point. Even though I was ashamed of myself she wasn¡®t ashamed of me. I don¡¯t know how she could tolerate me, but somehow she manages. I wonder why. Is she crazy? I don''t think she is but is she obsessed because why can¡¯t she see I¡¯m a mess?


    She must¡¯ve been able to recognise my flaws easily yet perceive me as a healthy lad.


    So, I took a voice call and gathered all the strength in me to speak to her. She answered after it rang a few times.


    ¡°Hello? Pathum?¡± I heard her voice.


    I failed to answer her immediately except closing my eyes and facepalming. The first few seconds were spent murmuring and trying to sound normal, but after several failed attempts, I was finally able to speak normally.


    ¡°Hey Scarlet, I¡¯m so sorry for ending the call like that. I was scared. But it was my first time talking to a girl. I mean video chatting. And it didn¡¯t turn out well.¡±


    She stopped the rapid flow of apologies from my lips with a stern but pleasant tone.


    ¡°Stop saying sorry. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. It was cute and I enjoyed it.¡± Her voice echoed in my ear.


    ¡°Are you for real?¡± I asked, taking a deep breath.


    She chuckled sweetly.


    ¡°I am sweetie. It was a fantastic experience.¡±


    I¡¯m blushing profusely, my head bowed in embarrassment.


    ¡°But I sounded embarrassing,¡± I said, trying my best not to sound like a loser.


    She began scolding me.


    ¡°Stop that would you? You were so cute, I couldn¡¯t be happier. So stop saying bad stuff about yourself.¡±


    ¡°But¨C¡± I opened my mouth to protest but was cut off by Scarlet.


    ¡°Listen to me. I loved everything about that video call, to be honest I still can''t believe it ended. I was so sad but I still remember your cute behaviour. You¡¯re shy, but that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re embarrassing. You¡¯re perfect just the way you are. Do you understand?¡± She raised her voice.


    Her accent is something I haven''t heard before. But I love it, she speaks freely unlike me. I want to eat her accent because she sounds so cool, but I guess that¡¯s how country people talk. She¡¯s the first country girl, well, person I ever talked to, so yeah.


    ¡°Thank you so much for your kind words,¡± I thanked her.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Pathum.¡± I could hear the smile in her voice when she spoke.


    I got goosebumps on my arms when she pronounced my name. Wow, that¡¯s so cute. This girl must be an angel descended from heaven. I acted in the most embarrassing way and yet she declared I looked and sounded good.


    We all can offer kindness with words but rarely assurance. However, this girl has the ability to say sweet words and act upon them so that everyone would feel the exact same way.


    ¡°Umm Scarlet. I - I¡­ I am¡­¡± my stuttering started up again.


    She gave me a sweet smile of reassurance.


    ¡°Yes, sweetie?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t meet her eyes as I began to speak. Even though she told me to stop apologising, I couldn¡¯t. I was too embarrassed about not being able to speak to her when I saw her face through the webcam a few minutes ago.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡±


    Confusion permeated her tone when she spoke next.


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°For hanging up the call earlier. I shouldn¡¯t have done that but I had no choice. My mom was upset. Would you forgive me? It wasn¡¯t really because of mom, it was because I couldn¡¯t face you. I¡®m sorry it was awkward and I promise I¡¯ll do better next time. Okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay, I believe you,¡± Scarlet replied calmly.


    ¡°Bye, Scarlet.¡±


    ¡°Bye sweetie.¡±


    That was so sweet, she called me sweetie and there¡¯s no other voice that could sound better than hers. I was still shivering even when the call ended, my voice must¡¯ve sounded terrible but still my bestie made me feel safe. I guess that¡¯s why we need besties in our lives.


    Well to be honest, I¡¯ve never had a bestie before. Well, I did have a boy who was my best friend but this is the first time I had a bestie. It sounds feminine but it¡¯s true. And I have zero regrets. Of course I have no regrets meeting this beautiful angel. I meant beautiful from the inside, not her appearance. Yes her appearance is pleasing but I became her friend and eventually her bestie not based on physical appearances but by getting to know each other.


    Scarlet: We¡¯ve got some talking to do sweetie.


    Pathum: I know we do, sweetie.


    Scarlet: First off, are you okay? Have you seen a ghost or did I scare you?


    Pathum: Well, you are white so you look like a ghost. So yes I was scared of you, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Haha, very funny. Now tell me, are you okay?


    Pathum: I¡¯m still shivering.


    Scarlet: OMG, why is that?


    Pathum: OMG sweetie aren¡¯t you shaking or scared?


    Scarlet: No, I¡¯m not scared but my heart is beating faster than normal and I¡¯m sweating excessively. Does that tell you something?


    Pathum: Yes, it clearly tells me that you were scared too. I''m glad you were. But to be honest I wasn''t scared. It¡¯s just that I get this extreme shyness all of a sudden where I want to hide from the world. I don''t like that but guess what? I can''t do anything about it.


    Scarlet: Oh, okay. I understand sweetie.


    Pathum: Thank you. Have you taken any video calls with your friends before? This is my first time doing it with any friend.


    Scarlet: Yes, I have. But this is the first time I¡¯ve had a video chat with a guy.


    Pathum: And this is my first time with a friend and a girl. So we broke many records today. Congratulations to us!!


    Scarlet: Hurray!! Hehe


    Pathum: You¡¯re so cute.


    Scarlet: Thanks. So are you.


    Pathum: I''m not anything but ugly.


    Scarlet: OMG, would you stop that? You aren¡¯t ugly. I don''t know who inserted those thoughts into your head but you better remove them. You¡¯re a handsome man. So, don¡¯t ever make me repeat my words, do you understand?


    Pathum: Yes, sir! *salute*


    Scarlet: Good boy.


    Pathum: Good girl.


    Scarlet: Now tell me how does a Sri Lankan act so cute and sound so cute?


    Pathum: I have the same question for you. And also your accent¡­. I could eat it. Like for real. Your voice sounds amazing.


    Scarlet: Boy, don''t you get me stirred up. Your accent was just jaw dropping.


    Pathum: That¡¯s a freaking lie. I''m sorry sweetie but I can''t believe it.


    Scarlet : Why can''t you believe that? Don''t you trust me?


    Pathum: It''s not that. It''s just I didn''t even say ten words to you. How did you jump to such conclusions?


    Scarlet: You might not have spoken ten words to me with your awesome accent but you did speak and I¡¯m not deaf. I heard you and so did my mom. She was over the moon. There¡¯s a difference. No one has ever made such an impact in our lives like you have. Yes it might seem overrated but it''s the truth. Believe it or not your accent is just awesome to listen to. I want to hear you talk more.


    Pathum: Please stop mocking me.


    Scarlet: Were you abused in your childhood? Please be honest. I value your honesty.


    Pathum: Of course NOT. Why would you think that?


    Scarlet: Because you disregard and blame yourself, and it¡¯s degrading. And well, it might not be toxic to people around you but it¡¯s bad for yourself. So please start loving yourself, and give yourself some room to be a better human.


    Pathum: Awwww¡­. My bestie¡¯s a gentle person. I''m glad to have met you sweetie.


    Scarlet: I mean it. You need to love thy self.


    Pathum: I didn''t. Just like I don''t appreciate myself, you seem to ignore me when I give credit to you. So don''t do that as well. You deserve more credit than you ever receive. When someone appreciates you, make sure you receive them wholeheartedly. You¡¯re an amazing person and I''m glad to have met you.


    Scarlet: Aww.


    Pathum: Hehehehehehehehe


    Scarlet: Stop.


    Pathum: Ehehehehehehehehehehehe


    Scarlet: OMG NO!


    Pathum: OMG what?


    Scarlet: My mom told me to calm down and that my voice¡¯s too loud.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Pathum: What''s with your voice?


    Scarlet: I cracked up laughing too loudly.


    Pathum: OMG, haha!


    Scarlet: Stop laughing, brat.


    Pathum: OK. Now, what are we going to talk about today?


    Scarlet: Anything and everything.


    Pathum: Hey! That''s my catchphrase.


    Scarlet: Well you¡¯re my bestie so..


    Pathum: Oops!


    Scarlet: Exactly!


    Pathum: Exactly. You¡¯re correct. Since I¡¯m your bestie you own everything. Well not everything but almost everything.


    I then exited the app because I got a notification from WhatsApp stating that someone has added me to a WhatsApp group.


    Of course I cannot recall a person¡¯s number by memory other than my mom¡¯s. So it was pointless to even think about who this person was. It could be anyone. So I went into the group I¡¯d been added into and saw was named ¡°Biology 2021¡±.


    Then I understood. It¡¯s something to do with the class, so I looked at the members and luckily I found many of my classmates. There were 20 members, and the group was created recently. It doesn¡¯t have any messages so far except the date that it was created which means this group hasn¡¯t started any activities.


    So it seems our Biology teacher has created a group. Well, it wasn¡¯t her but it was under her supervision.


    A few minutes passed and the new members started to send messages. I read through them but didn¡¯t respond to them because none of them concerned me. However, everyone was confused who made the group and for what purpose.


    But while they talked about things, I sat there and watched them. I didn''t have any intention to reply to them. Then our Biology teacher stated there will be an online class tomorrow morning.


    I sighed in annoyance.


    I didn''t want to go to an online class. I wanted to spend the lockdown without any studies but it seems I''m out of luck. Then the members of the group started to talk about what time the class begins. Most were saying 8 am but the teacher decided to hold it at 6.


    They¡¯re holding the class at 6 am? I fumed. I don''t remember the last time I woke up at six.


    For the past month I had slept for six to ten hours while the rest of my time was spent on Wattpad or with my bestie. But now it seems like I can''t spend any time with her. Oh, I don¡¯t want to leave her alone for more than necessary.


    But now in addition to the sleeping time, I¡®ll have an online class. So she¡¯ll miss me more. Oh, I cannot leave her like that. I¡¯m not going to leave her for that long. She needs me and I need her. Why? Because I¡¯m her bestie and she''s mine.


    I¡¯m determined not to attend this online class. But then I start wondering what it''s like. It¡¯ll probably be a video call with many familiar faces. Oh, for deity¡¯s sake it means I¡¯ll have to show my face to the whole class. God forbid, I won''t attend this online class. We have two more weeks until this lockdown ends and school starts up.


    So why would we need to do this online class? I don''t know, Pathum, don''t ask me. I¡¯m not the judge or the jury. I¡¯m the victim, just let the lawyer handle the case Pathum. Okay if you say so.


    Honestly I can''t attend this class. Why should I? Can''t I stay home? Well of course I¡¯ll be in my house but during those hours I¡¯ll be in an online class. Why in the world can''t I be alone with Scarlet? I don''t want to be with my classmates.


    My only friend is Scarlet, and no one will get close to her level. Even though we¡¯re thousands of miles apart, I love her more than any other friends of mine. Though I say my classmates as my friends, truth be told they aren¡¯t really.


    I¡¯m comfortable with only having a small circle of friends. I dislike being with people even though once upon a time I wanted to have more friends. But things change.


    The thought that I have to get up early the next morning pained me, but guess what? I had no choice but I¡¯m not going to attend. I just want to spend time alone with my bestie.


    However, I was snapped out of my thoughts when one of my classmates texted me.


    Nipun: Hey man, are you going to attend this online class?


    Pathum: NO.


    Nipun: Why not? Are you crazy?


    Pathum: Hell no, I just don¡¯t want to.


    Nipun: Fuck man. The teacher insisted for us to attend. Don¡¯t be crazy just fucking attend.


    Pathum: UGH! Why can¡¯t we do nothing at home?


    Nipun: Ask the teacher.


    Pathum: TEACHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


    Nipun: Oh, stop being dramatic and just be there all right? The teacher said to log in at six.


    Pathum: Let¡¯s see, we still have one free night.


    I then got a text from Kamal, my former bestie, to whom I promised I wouldn¡¯t do any jokes for, because those memories haunt me to this day.


    Kamal: Hey man, what¡¯s this online class thing?


    Pathum: God knows what.


    Kamal: Are you going to be present?


    Pathum: No.


    Kamal: Why not?


    Pathum: Because I don¡¯t want to.


    Kamal: Fuck you man!


    Pathum: Hmm


    Even though I hated that word, I typed it because I hated to carry out the conversation. He didn¡¯t cease to remind me that I have to attend the class anyway but the thing is, I just don¡¯t want to. So I replied with more ¡°hmms¡± and he eventually stopped texting.


    I smiled to myself triumphantly. Mission accomplished.


    I then logged into Hangouts and texted Scarlet before taking screenshots of the group chat and their conversation. Since they were talking in English, I had no problem with translating for Scarlet. I showed her almost every single conversation including the part where the teacher spoke.


    Also I made sure I blocked out their numbers so that Scarlet wouldn¡¯t see them. It was not because of anything other than the fact that I disliked the fact that Scarlet would get to know their number if I didn¡¯t.


    And maybe it¡¯s because I wanted to protect their privacy. Maybe but what¡¯s private after they already made themselves public when they text in the group? I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with me but something told me not to share their numbers with Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, so what¡¯cha going to do?


    Pathum: I don¡¯t know sweetie. They¡¯re all so excited for the online class, but I¡¯d hate to be there. I dislike being around many people. And when we turn on our cameras, I¡¯m concerned I¡¯ll look horrible as well. And at six in the morning? My butt is dead asleep by that time and even if I did wake up earlier how could I not text you? It¡¯s impossible.


    Scarlet: I understand that sweetie but it¡¯s for your exams. Maybe think about it that way.


    Pathum: Ugh I hate the thought of getting up at six.


    Scarlet: Uhhh¡­. Didn¡¯t you used to get up way earlier to go to school?


    Pathum: That¡¯s why I hate school.


    Scarlet: Just try it sweetie, it won¡¯t be that bad.


    Pathum: There will be around twenty people in the class, all in a single video call and how? I have no idea what to expect. I¡¯ve never been on a group call with my classmates. You were the first person I¡¯ve video chatted with and I hope to keep it that way. But destiny has different things stored for us. We just have to be patient and act accordingly.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re a wise young man.


    Pathum: Man? Not yet not yet hehe


    Scarlet: OK.. SOON YOU¡¯LL BE A MAN, SWEETIE.


    Pathum: I know, I just don¡¯t want tomorrow to arrive. I just wish the class would be cancelled so that I could talk with you.


    Scarlet; Awwww¡­. you¡¯re adorable. But as you said earlier, if you don¡¯t learn, then your dream of going abroad to go to university won¡¯t come true.


    Pathum: Aww I know sweetie.


    Scarlet: Good. Now take a deep breath and you¡¯ll have the courage to face tomorrow


    I did as she said and took a deep breath but I couldn¡¯t gather courage because there was none left in me.


    Then, after dinner, I brushed my teeth, washed myself, and fell into bed. Thinking of ways I can escape this upcoming session. I ignored the excitement of the other students. It scared me but for them it brings joy.


    During the course of the night, I kept talking to Scarlet about my resistance to participate and she tried her best to console me. Because even if the class was for a few hours, it¡¯s still grief for me. Soon, it was almost midnight but I kept talking to her instead of sleeping.


    This made my mom look over, and seeing the bright glare from my phone, tapped my leg.


    ¡°Hey. Stop talking to her and go to sleep, will you?¡±


    ¡°Fine. Whatever, mom,¡± I said, irritation in my voice.


    I share a bedroom with my mom, and while that might sound odd, it¡¯s true. But why is an eighteen-year-old boy sleeping in the same room with his mom? Well, not everyone has a huge house with multiple bedrooms. And we¡¯re not living in our own house; we couldn''t afford to have separate bedrooms as there are three families living in this house. It looks like one of those simple buildings that kids draw when they¡¯re told to draw a house.


    But don¡¯t judge people. You might not have ever heard of an eighteen-year-old boy sharing a bedroom with his mom, but those things exist. And I have no shame in it, I¡¯m proud to still have my mother, and I¡¯ll protect her from anything.


    Oh, well, maybe my story is sad. But does it matter?


    So, I said goodbye to my bestie only to fall asleep and meet her in my dreams but soon I woke up to my mother tapping my shoulder. She was telling me to shut off the alarm. It was then that I realised that I¡¯m late for the class so I got up and went to wash my face.


    I made sure I use my mom¡¯s face wash. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll make me look any better but I can try. Since I have to show my face, I made sure I looked cute.


    Well, deep down I know I¡¯m cute but I don¡¯t bother to be egotistical about it. That doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m above or below anyone; I¡¯m just me.


    It was 6:05 am, so that meant I was five minutes late and when I got onto WhatsApp, I saw that the teacher had delivered a message to the group. It was a link to a certain app.


    Confused with the situation, I asked Nipun for advice. He then told me to download this app named ¡°Zoom¡± and I did so and afterward I made an account.


    I was still nervous because I was fifteen minutes late and I still hadn¡¯t joined the conversation. So I followed the instructions and then suddenly I appeared in a collection of names. There were other members of the group. Some of them had turned on their cameras and I could see them while some others had muted their microphones and turned off their cameras. All that is displayed in front of their name is their first initial.


    Even though I declared it was late, I actually wasn¡¯t. There were a few other members who hadn¡¯t joined the class and the teacher was waiting for them. But while we were waiting, she was talking about this new experience and giving us advice about future plans. And also according to her, this lockdown will soon come to an end and we could get back to our physical classes. She says she hopes to do this online class for only this month.


    However, I don¡¯t know about everything she said but the fact that I could stay at home and do my class for now pleases me. I have no need to dress properly and travel in public transport to be at the class. All I need to do is wake up, wash myself, and sit on a chair while making sure that I don¡¯t click on the camera or microphone icons.


    I sat there throughout the class, which lasted until about 8 am. It seemed that she had planned everything out for everyone, including the nighttime users. So things went well and I enjoyed the class but I was never focused on what the teacher said. I was either living in the past or in the future. I had to put a stop to it or else my studies wouldn¡¯t achieve the maximum it ought to achieve.


    But finally once the class finished, I walked outside to see the sun. It welcomed me with its bright, warm rays, and taking a deep breath, I looked around me. Everything looks green and yellow, and it¡¯s so beautiful.


    However, even though the class ended I wasn¡¯t done with writing because I used a pencil to write down the notes. Now I have to copy down the pencil written words into beautiful pen written words. Since it was day one of my online class, I needed the notes to make a new book.


    By the time I finished writing, Scarlet had fallen asleep. So, after breakfast mom and I started a conversation.


    ¡°Hey, Pathum, how was your online class?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It was fine, mom. I just finished writing down my notes,¡± I replied with a smile and showed the notes to her.


    She looked over the notes in admiration and with every page her smile grew wider. She delicately touched every letter as her eyes sparkled while looking at me lovingly.


    ¡°Wow! Your handwriting is amazing!¡±


    I looked at her, annoyance written across my dark features. I didn¡¯t believe what she said in the slightest. She was lying.


    ¡°Lies!¡±


    She shook her head at me, frowning slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying. These are some beautifully written notes.¡±


    ¡°thank you mom !¡±


    ¡°of course Hunny!¡±


    After finishing the conversation, the rest of the day was normal, and after my bath, it was time to wait for Scarlet to wake up and message me. While I waited, I focused on studying my Biology notes. To be honest, while looking at my writing, I have to admire it. I was just trying to get more credit for myself when I denied they weren¡¯t good.


    We were currently studying epithelial cells and it was easy thanks to my organisational skills and the well planned out notes of the teacher. I was able to revise quite easily. When I got to a stopping point, it was five in the evening and Scarlet still hadn¡¯t responded to my messages. She¡¯s probably sleeping, which is totally fine. She needs her rest.


    So, I kept studying even if I was anxiously waiting for her notifications and that¡¯s when I heard the Google Hangouts notification. I grabbed my phone to open the app and saw it was her, but from a different email.


    Does this mean she has changed her email? Oh, why does it matter? It¡¯s still her so I opened the chat and read the message she had sent through her new email and that¡¯s when I lost control of my hands. The phone fell down and an eerie shiver went down my spine at the sight of the message.


    Because looking back at me was a disturbing picture of a naked girl. I was disgusted, but more importantly scared because the girl in the picture was familiar. I wanted to cease the rapid beating of my heart and flow of my thoughts.


    I then stared at the message below the picture.


    ¡°If you want her to be famous, go ahead and talk about it. The choice is yours.¡±


    Though I was shivering, I managed to type out.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    I got an immediate reply.


    ¡°What would the fun be if I told you?¡±


    Who the hell is this? Why does this person have the same name as Scarlet and how does he own pictures of her and especially those pictures? Oh, it can¡¯t be her, I know she¡¯s a good girl who wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.


    ¡°Seriously¡­.. What do you want?¡± I typed out, breathing heavily.


    ¡°I want you to stay away from Scarlet,¡± he said in reply.


    I re-read the message several times to make sure that I was wrong but it¡¯s her name. I don''t know how long I kept staring at the message, because I fell into unconsciousness but I came to when mom screamed in shock.


    ¡°What are you staring at, Pathum?!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I murmured to which she raised her brows and by her look she was about to lose her temper.


    Then I came into the realisation that there was that inappropriate picture in my chat, even though it was there, I was focused on the message I got.


    ¡°Mom, this is not what you think it is. It¡¯s just someone umm¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh please explain yourself my dear,¡± she growled.


    ¡°Umm..¡± I murmured, not knowing what to say. Should I explain to her that someone just threatened me? But if so, I¡¯d have to tell her who the pictures are of. Oh gosh I¡¯m in a terrible situation.


    Please mom understand me. I prayed to myself.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got some talking to do,¡± she snapped, closing the curtain and left. But I just stood there stunned, not knowing what to do.

 Chapter 9

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    It was nine in the morning and I had slept later than usual. Now, lying in bed, I replied to Pathum¡¯s messages. But apart from those, there were some notifications from Wattpad, and new messages on Google Hangouts. When I went into Hangouts, I looked at the person¡¯s name and saw that it was the same as mine.


    What the heck?! Who¡¯s this pretending to be me? I thought, chuckling to myself in amusement.


    I clicked on the name and an image appeared with a message below. I recognised it, and it sent shivers through my spine. I tried to get up from the bed but I was powerless. I started to shiver at the sight of the picture and the realisation of who it belonged to. How could this person have taken my pictures? The face looks like me but that body isn¡¯t mine.


    I looked at the message and it read:


    (Unknown) Scarlet: ¡°Hello baby girl, remember me?¡±


    Even though it was creepy, I texted them back.


    Scarlet: ¡°Who are you? And who¡¯s that?¡±


    (Unknown) Scarlet: ¡°Oh, don¡¯t play innocent, sweet girl. You know who I am.¡± The reply came with a smirk emoji.


    I hated the message as well as that emoji.


    What the hell is happening?


    I saw Pathum¡¯s messages but I swiped them away planning to reply to them later. I don¡¯t have any idea who this is but I have yet to reply.


    Scarlet: ¡°No, that¡¯s not me. I¡¯ve never taken such a picture in my life.¡±


    (Unknown) Scarlet: ¡°So the face is familiar but the body isn¡¯t. Does that ring a bell? I was familiar with your face but never with your body, but I dreamt I had.¡±


    I made a disgusted face at this pervert¡¯s words.


    What the heck is this person up to? And how the hell does he have my contact info?


    I don¡¯t know how to answer these questions or what to do, because millions of thoughts rushed through my mind. I touched the carpet with my bare feet and the cold temperature made me recoil. I was still shaking from fright, and I realised I had no control over it.


    Scarlet: ¡°What do you want with me, you pervert?¡±


    (Unknown) Scarlet: ¡°Oh, that hurt, my sweet girl.¡±


    I froze after reading this latest message. Something about the way he said it in the text sounded familiar. Sweet girl? That sounds like I should recognise it but I cannot track down the memory to figure out who this is.


    Is this a joke? What the heck is going on?


    Scarlet: ¡°Seriously, I don¡¯t know you so would you please stop doing this? If you don¡¯t take down the picture, I¡¯m telling the cops.¡±


    Of course he was quick to respond to me.


    (Unknown) Scarlet: ¡°Oh, sweet girl, the police can¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    I growled in frustration before typing, my fingers rapidly hitting the keyboard.


    Scarlet: ¡°What are you? What do you want from me?¡±


    (Unknown) Scarlet: Anything and everything!


    Scarlet: What the hell are you talking about?


    (Unknown) Scarlet: Chill out sweet girl.


    Scarlet: Stop calling me sweet girl, you jerk.


    (Unknown) Scarlet: Oh, but sweet girl there¡¯s nothing to worry about. What¡¯s wrong?


    Scarlet: Why the heck are you doing this to me? I¡¯m warning you, stop immediately.


    Unknown: Aww look at you.


    Scarlet: Stop.


    Unknown: There¡¯s nothing to freak out about, sweet girl.


    Why does he keep calling me that? And why does it sound so familiar?


    Does this person know me? I thought, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion while staring at the screen.


    I have zero guesses, and my shivering hand wasn¡¯t cooperating with me as well.


    Scarlet: You better stop this.


    Unknown (Scarlet): You¡¯re still as hot as you were a year ago.


    A year ago? Omg it can¡¯t be him. My shivering worsened at the memory and realisation of who this is. The phone fell from my hands to the bed, and then it vibrated with new notifications but my mind was filled with his name and he himself. I don¡¯t want him back in my life.


    Unknown (Scarlet): Oh sweet girl have you figured it out already? Why are you so meek about it?


    Scarlet: Victor?


    Unknown: My sweet girl, it¡¯s a pleasure to be back.


    I froze, scared and frustrated.


    Why is he back? What does he want? And what¡¯s with that picture he sent me? Is he still after it? Oh, God, why did You have to put him in my life? What¡¯s the point in this? I don¡¯t want him back. Please God, you¡¯re making a mistake. I don''t want him to cause any trouble for my family again.


    I stepped backward and fell to the bed.


    This is not good. Didn¡¯t he promise not to come into our lives? Didn¡¯t he say it was over and that we¡¯re no longer a part of his life. I don¡¯t know what I should do, should I tell Pathum? No, I can¡¯t stress him out. I don¡¯t want to stress anyone out. He cannot settle in our lives, he¡¯s gone and so shall it be.


    His name and face appeared many times in my mind. I wanted to get out of this prison but it¡¯s too late. He has already entered my mind and now I can¡¯t ignore him. But in the midst of everything why him? God please tell me why?


    I heard a few knocks on my door but I ignored them before Mom opened the door and screamed at me.


    ¡°Get up Scarlet!¡±


    She was standing near the door with crossed arms. Turning to her, I took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off my face before getting up and walking towards her.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Morning, mom.¡±


    She raised her eyebrows as she examined me curiously.


    ¡°Morning to you as well. What kept you up all night?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    My blunt response had her glaring at me.


    ¡°Then why were you sleeping in until nine?¡±


    ¡°Because my body needed it,¡± I replied sassily.


    She shook her head at me, tutting.


    ¡°You only need eight hours of sleep and you would¡¯ve gotten it if you had gone to bed at the right time.¡± Her voice faded as images of Victor filled my head.


    I stopped her from speaking further by putting my hand up.


    ¡°Mom, could you leave me alone?¡± I asked while not looking at her.


    She sighed, sounding tired.


    ¡°I¡¯ve left you alone for a while and look where you ended up.¡±


    I met her eyes, our gazes locking.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I tilted my head in curiosity.


    ¡°You¡¯re still in bed even though it¡¯s past time to get up, and you don¡¯t go to bed at an appropriate time. And you¡¯re always moody,¡± she explained while giving me a look. ¡±What does that sound like to you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, mom,¡± I said, getting up to hug her as tears started to cascade down my cheeks.


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± she asked kissing me on the forehead.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­.. nothing..¡± I stuttered.


    ¡°Oh, it can¡¯t be nothing if you¡¯re crying like this. Now go ahead and tell me, sweetheart.¡±


    Her words were comforting, but I just shook my head. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to bother her about the Victor situation. It would no doubt upset her. So I decided to lie.


    ¡°Mom I promise there¡¯s nothing wrong. I just have a bad headache.¡±


    She nodded her head with a grim look on her face.


    ¡°Okay then, grab 2 Tylenol, and it¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    I went into the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and pretended to take some Tylenol. And a few minutes later, Mom, Abigail and I were all in the kitchen. Mom was pouring out a cup of her favourite warm tea while Abigail was already drinking hers. I was just sitting there, staring at my cup while ignoring them.


    ¡°So, how¡®s Pathum doing?¡± mom asked suddenly.


    Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts, so I looked up, meeting her eyes.


    ¡°I replied to his morning messages but he seemed to be busy with his homework, so he hadn¡¯t replied to me yet,¡± I said.


    But suddenly, Abigail spilled her tea all over herself, and looked at me as if she¡¯d seen a ghost.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± she accused, trying to wipe the tea off of her, and I rushed to help, but she stopped me with a shake of her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Scarlet. It¡¯s just hot tea.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I protested. ¡°He really is busy.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but don¡¯t let lying become a habit, Scarlet. It¡¯s not a good thing to do,¡± Abigail said, finishing her tea.


    I looked at her, raising my hands in surrender.


    Soon we began to cook breakfast and I focused on cutting the vegetables but my mind still wandered to Victor and the disgusting image he sent me. He¡¯s an expert at editing. But what if mom saw? How am I supposed to explain that he has my email? I don''t know what to do.


    He didn''t seem to want to move on from the past.


    Mom then got our attention by snapping her fingers, and we both looked t her. Her eyebrows were raised as she studied us both. It made us squirm under her penetrating gaze.


    ¡°What were you two talking about a few minutes ago?¡±


    ¡°¡¯About Scarlet¡¯s lying,¡± Abigail smirked nervously.


    ¡°What?! I¡¯m not lying to anyone,¡± I said sternly.


    ¡°Well, didn¡¯t you do it earlier when you were asked about Pathum?¡± Abigail asked me.


    I shook my head.


    What¡¯s her problem?


    ¡°Of course not!¡± I denied again, slamming my teacup down on the table.


    Mom stopped what she was doing and stared at me, tapping the table to get my attention. When she spoke, her voice was firm and her gaze stern.


    ¡°You need to control your anger, Scarlet,¡± she said.


    ¡°But I¡¯m not mad.¡±


    ¡°Clearly,¡± mom replied sarcastically, wiping the liquid that fell from my cup.


    I grumbled to myself, thunking my head onto the table.


    ¡°You guys are nuts, just leave me alone.¡±


    Abigail looked at me, an eyebrow raised.


    ¡°What''s with you? You¡¯re always in a bad mood. Isn¡¯t she?¡± she asked.


    I huffed. She¡¯s talking as if she never gets into a bad mood. But that¡¯s what you get when you¡¯re the younger one in the family.


    ¡°Oh, please. Aren¡¯t you guys always in a bad mood as well?¡± I glance at them.


    ¡°Yes, but at least we try not to be controlled by it.¡±


    I look up at them, my glare frosty, and when I speak, my voice is practically dripping with sarcasm.


    ¡°Oh pardon me! You guys could teach me how to master that skill.¡±


    ¡°Very funny, Scarlet,¡± mom said as she clapped, smiling at me while Abigail rolled her eyes.


    I hated it when this duo combined.


    I left the kitchen and went towards my room, lost in a sea of thoughts. I was suffocating because I was metres away from drowning. And there''s no one who can help. Although Pathum is the only one I can go to. There¡¯s no one other than him, it must be him.


    Finally after waiting two more hours I got a call from him.


    ¡±I¡¯m so sorry for being late, sweetie.¡±


    I was still sniffling from earlier, but managed to reply to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to be late, I don''t recall the last time that you were, probably never. So don¡¯t blame yourself for that.¡±


    When Pathum heard my cries, he reacted immediately with concern.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡±


    ¡°Oh nothing¡¯s wrong. I just have a slight headache.¡±


    I lied. Knowing that he would figure it out I lied, maybe because I want him to discover the truth rather than revealing it. I pray he would get me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t recall the last time you ever shed tears for a headache. But if you¡¯re not okay, I¡¯d advise you to take some medicine as quickly as possible. Okay?¡±


    But I shook my head, as stubborn as ever, even though he couldn¡¯t see it.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about me, sweetie, I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°But I will worry.¡±


    I blushed at this, thankful he couldn¡¯t see it.


    ¡°Aww you¡¯re so sweet.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ ugh I hate that word but yet I proceeded to send it.¡±


    The annoyance in his tone was obvious, so I decided to get to the bottom of it.


    ¡°Are you okay? And why were you late? I¡¯m sorry for asking but I noticed a significant difference in your mood. You were ecstatic before eight but after I woke up you were different. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Uhhhhh¡­.. about that¡­.¡± he said, sounding very awkward.


    ¡°Seriously, what is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡­¡­ can¡¯t.¡±


    I¡¯m now very confused since he¡¯s being vague in his words.


    ¡±Can¡¯t what?¡±


    He coughed, trying to clear his throat, but when he spoke, his voice wasn¡¯t very strong. It sounded like he was trying not to cry.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I love you and I won''t let any harm come to you sweetie, please understand, I can¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡±


    ¡±Pathum, seriously, what¡¯s wrong? What are you implying?¡±


    ¡°We need to stop talking for a while,¡± he said bluntly.


    I froze, not knowing what to do. Did he mean he needed a break? But what about that pervert, how can I deal with him alone? What has gotten into Pathum? Whatever happened it must¡®ve occurred while I overslept. Is he frustrated because I slept more? No, I don¡¯t think he has that type of temper.


    With shaking fingers, I sent him a message.


    Scarlet: That¡¯s not funny, Pathum.


    He hung up after I sent the message, and I saw that he read it. He appeared to be in the middle of typing but suddenly went offline. I then waited for fifteen minutes while staring at the screen but he didn¡¯t re-appear.


    What¡¯s happening? Why God why?


    He always replies before he goes to sleep but it¡¯s different. I knew the timezone well enough to confirm that he wouldn¡¯t be going to sleep at this time of night.


    Something must¡¯ve happened while I was asleep, but what was it?

 Chapter 10

    Pathum POV


    I released a sigh, fortunately mom wasn''t here, she was having her dinner which I barely ate. The shivering still remained but I also felt like I was about to faint. It must be due to lack of food in my belly. But I couldn''t eatt, not since I saw that picture. I couldn''t focus on anything but on those words this stranger said.


    What could be his motive, and how does he have my email? Has he hacked into her phone? And how the hell did he come to possess her pictures and details? Shouldn''t I ask her before jumping into assumptions?


    Of course she¡¯d reveal the truth but what would happen to her if I reveal what¡¯s going on from my end? What if that person does something wrong to her? Who knows what they¡¯re capable of.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Mom asked, and appeared near the door with her arms crossed.


    ¡°Nothing¡­.. Why?¡± I asked, avoiding her gaze.


    ¡°Because I saw that you offered your food to the dog. Did I cook it so that you could feed it to him? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°If it was something pleasant, I would¡¯ve eaten it but it''s just crappy vegetables, so I threw it away.¡±


    ¡°So that our dog can have some vitamins? How kind of you,¡± she mocked.


    I abruptly stood up, my chair falling to the ground, and spun to look at her, my dark eyes full of fury. She stood her ground looking unimpressed as I stormed over to her.


    ¡°What the fuck is wrong with you, Mom?!¡± I yelled.


    She gritted her teeth and came forward towards me. Like me, she looked pretty angry. And when she spoke, her voice was cold.


    ¡°You better shut that mouth of yours or else everyone will get to know what you were watching.¡±


    I froze in horror and she gave me a grin but triumphant look. Oh, no, she¡¯s blackmailing me, but that wouldn¡¯t be the first time someone blackmailed me today. Nonetheless, my temper deflated and I sat back down in my chair, rubbing my temples.


    ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood the situation, I never looked at anything,¡± I said, letting go of a sigh.


    ¡°I know what I saw.¡± She threw daggers at me from her eyes.


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you,¡± she said with a fake smile.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± I said, throwing my phone away.


    ¡°Is that what you want?¡± she said, continuing to glare at me.


    I balled my hand into a fist but didn¡¯t show it. It will only cause further trouble. Why is she talking in this absurd way?


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand what¡¯s going on here, mom,¡± I sighed.


    She scoffed.


    ¡±Of course I don¡¯t, and I never did. Did I?¡± She raised both her hands.


    ¡°You¡¯ve taken it the wrong way. I wasn¡¯t looking at that picture, mom.¡±


    ¡°Then how come you have that picture?¡± she asked, pointing towards my phone¡¯s screen.


    ¡°Please understand that someone just told me not to talk to Scarlet anymore. I don¡¯t know who they are, or whether they¡¯re male or female. I just know they¡¯re not someone in Scarlet¡¯s family. It seems like it might be some creep,¡± I said while mom sat down in my chair.


    She looked at me, horrified.


    ¡°Why would someone do that to her?¡±


    I shrugged.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, mom.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about this, do you?¡± mom asked, looking at me.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid not, but don¡¯t you trust me?¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°I trust you but I don¡¯t trust that woman.¡±


    I cocked my head to the side curiously.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°How could you even live? You can¡¯t seem to understand what I said.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes at her and crossed my arms.


    ¡°Just fucking say it.¡±


    ¡°How could someone have someone else¡¯s pictures? She had probably given them to him.¡±


    ¡°No, she wouldn¡¯t do that. She isn¡¯t a bad person.¡±


    ¡°Well, what do you know about that woman?¡± She raised her brows.


    ¡°She¡¯s just a girl, Mom. Why do you talk about her this way?¡±


    ¡°Because I know nothing about her, I can¡¯t really jump to any conclusions.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°Because she told me everything.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­.. is that so?¡±


    ¡°Fuck everything. I hate everything!¡± I yelled, rising from my chair in frustration.


    Mom gave me a look of disapproval, shaking one of her fingers at me and shaking her head.


    ¡°Lower your voice.¡±


    ¡°Or else what?¡± I asked which earned me a hard slap across the face. Touching my face and closing my eyes, I growled. ¡±Get the fuck out of here, Mom. I don¡¯t want to be with someone like you. You¡¯re a horrible person!¡±


    Mom glared at me and spoke in a condescending tone.


    ¡°Oh, so I¡¯m the terrible one? You picked a woman over your mother. You love her more than you love me right?¡±


    Tears of frustration filled my eyes, blurring my vision. That¡¯s not true. There¡¯s nobody in the world that I love more than I love my mother. There¡¯s non one who will fill that hole in my heart.


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?!¡± I screamed.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay son. I¡¯m horrible. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll leave you alone so you can have your peace,¡± she lowered her voice as if choking on tears.


    ¡°Mom,¡± I got up from the bed and tried to console her but she left me with tears in her eyes.


    Soon, silence spread through the whole house except for my mother¡¯s sobbing. I never meant to say those horrible things to her. But it¡¯s too late. Ugh, I hate my mouth. Why in the bloody hell did I say those things to her? How am I going to apologise? Should I talk to Scarlet?


    I don¡¯t know.


    I hate myself. Why did I do that? I need to do something or else I would lose both of them. First I need to console my mom, but I don¡¯t know how. What should I say? I know nothing.


    I can still hear her crying about what I said. Then I heard her going to my grandma¡¯s room and taking stuff in her room. I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s doing but I heard chatter from that room.


    I wiped my tears from my face before taking a peek outside my bedroom. There was no one in the living room. But I could hear my grandma questioning her.


    I grabbed my phone and sent a short summary of what happened to Scarlet and she instantly replied to my surprise.


    Scarlet: Sweetie calm down, now it has happened stop blaming yourself. It¡¯s all right. Do you understand?


    Pathum: But I said horrible things to her, and she doesn''t deserve such words. I¡¯m a horrible person, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t believe that.


    Pathum: But I do.


    Scarlet: When was the last time you ever believed in something good about you?


    Pathum: SCARLET I miss her and I haven¡¯t left the room. I¡¯m so ashamed I can''t face her and Grandma. But I want to hug her and tell her that I¡¯m sorry.


    Scarlet: It was a one-time thing so forgive yourself.


    Pathum: No, I always hurt her with harsh words and repeat the process. There''s something wrong with me Scarlet. I should hate myself.


    Scarlet: But didn¡¯t Lord Buddha teach that hatred never ceases?


    Pathum: Yes, but Scarlet, I can¡¯t do this. What should I do?


    Scarlet: First things first. Let¡¯s calm down and then try to resolve this.


    Pathum: Okay.


    Scarlet: Take a deep breath and let it go.


    I did as she asked and repeated the process a few times as she had ordered me to do. I didn¡¯t feel calm but my mind reduced the rapid flow of thoughts going through my mind head. My mind was a little clearer and I could focus better.


    Pathum: I can''t promise that I¡¯m calm but I can safely say that my mind is clear.


    Scarlet: Good, now listen to me.


    Pathum: Okay.


    Scarlet: Take a deep breath and get up from your bed and walk towards your mom and hug her okay?


    I stood up and walked out of the room towards my grandmother¡¯s bedroom. I could hear her and my mother talking. Coming closer to the curtains, I took a deep breath, and reached out to pull them back when I heard something I hadn¡¯t expected.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°I have no son from today onwards.¡±


    The words made me freeze, and cover my mouth to prevent myself from sobbing at her angry words.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say such foolish things,¡± my grandma said.


    ¡°Well, he called me a horrible person, and told me to get out of the bedroom. So I¡¯ll leave him to his peace.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Grandma raised her voice.


    But mom protested against what she said, determined with her decision. I let go of the curtain and walked back to my room and broke out into tears. They stung my eyes as I typed out a message for Scarlet, and she responded by the second I sent the message.


    Scarlet: Awww, I¡¯m so sorry sweetie.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry too. I messed up didn¡¯t I?


    Scarlet: NOPE. It¡¯s just in your mind you¡¯re defeated. You should¡¯ve gotten the courage and hugged her. Can¡¯t you go back?


    Pathum: It¡¯s not possible because she''s in there with my grandma. I can¡¯t express my love in public.


    Scarlet: But it can hurt her.


    Pathum: OMG, Scarlet! I don¡¯t talk like that, I never meant any of those words I said.


    Scarlet: I know. But first learn to forgive yourself. You were out of control and your emotions took a toll and ruined you, so stop blaming and hating yourself.


    Pathum: But I¡¯m scared because she told Grandma that I¡¯m not her son.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, it¡¯s just your emotions playing their part. Your mother can¡¯t be without you and you can¡¯t be without her. Both of you need each other to grow and flourish. Just don¡¯t believe everything she says because part of it is emotions playing their worst scenario.


    Pathum: But she said she doesn¡¯t have a son anymore.


    Scarlet: Pathum. Listen, did you mean any of the words you said to her?


    Pathum: No. Of course NOT.


    Scarlet: If you¡¯re wise enough to understand that, be wise enough to understand what your mom¡¯s saying.


    Pathum: Thank you so much.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t thank me yet sweetie.


    Pathum: Why not? Of course I will. Thank you my lovely bestie. But I miss her presence.


    Scarlet: Aww sweetie I understand.


    Pathum: Of course, you do, so now what should I do?


    Scarlet: Let¡¯s wait until your mom calms down, okay?


    Pathum: She must come to bed now. But she¡¯s not here. Where is she?


    Scarlet: Exactly. She¡¯ll come to you when it¡¯s time.


    Pathum: I hope so. And hey I also have something important to say. I don¡¯t know how to tell you but I guess I have to.


    Scarlet: Tell me what sweetie?


    Pathum: UMM..


    Scarlet: Come on, say it.


    Pathum: UMM¡­


    Scarlet: Brat, say it.


    Pathum: It¡¯s about why I switched moods, something scary happened. And I¡¯m scared to tell you but I have to before it¡¯s too late. I¡¯m just scared or else I would¡¯ve already told you.


    Scarlet: What are you scared of?


    Pathum: That you¡¯ll be hurt.


    Scarlet: Nothing would happen to me, just say it.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t.


    Scarlet: Hmm..


    Pathum: Oh no, not that word, please don¡¯t be like this.


    Scarlet: What else do you want me to be?


    Pathum: Please. I¡¯m scared.


    Scarlet: Hmm¡­


    Pathum: SCARLET!


    Scarlet: Yes?


    Pathum: Please calm down


    Scarlet: I¡¯m already calm. You¡¯re keeping me out of that zone.


    Pathum: Hmm..


    She didn¡¯t respond after that so I decided to send the picture and the messages. It took her five minutes to respond.


    Scarlet: How did you get this?!


    Pathum: I¡¯m not judging, and I¡¯m sorry I saw the pictures but I wasn¡¯t looking afterwards. I saw them once and that''s it. Please don¡¯t think I was interested in the picture. I¡¯m not but well that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m bloody gay, it¡¯s just I choose not to cause how can I? You¡¯re my bestie and I respect you.


    Scarlet: Pathum, that¡¯s not me in that picture.


    Pathum: Oh, I didn¡¯t know that sweetie.


    Scarlet: Are you telling me that you don¡¯t believe me?


    Pathum: No, I just mean I don¡¯t know who the hell it is but nevertheless I¡¯ll help you out so don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m here for you anytime.


    Scarlet: I want to scream, I got this message from this person as well. I didn''t know how I could describe it to you, I didn¡¯t know what to do or say.


    Pathum: I don¡¯t know whether I can continue talking to you.


    Scarlet: Are you going to leave me?


    Pathum: If that¡¯s what it takes to protect you, then I guess I have no other choice, sweetie. But I doubt I could ever live without you.


    Scarlet: Stop saying this stuff. You aren¡¯t going anywhere.


    Pathum: But I¡¯m so scared for you. What if this person does something to you?


    Scarlet: He won¡¯t hurt me as far as I know him.


    Pathum: How could you guarantee that?


    Scarlet: Because I know him.


    Pathum: You know this person?


    Scarlet: Yes.


    Pathum: So you gave him my email?


    Scarlet: NO Pathum, I haven''t seen him since last year.


    Pathum: Okay, so then how the hell did he get my email? Were you hacked?


    Scarlet: God knows how, I didn¡¯t notice any suspicious acts in my phone nor do I think he¡¯s an expert on hacking.


    Pathum: You know him well? Who is he? And what¡¯s the reason behind this? Why is he blackmailing you? How can we be sure that he isn¡¯t reading our messages now? What if he knows everything around you? Wouldn¡¯t that be something we must inform the officials about?


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t know where to begin and where to end.


    Pathum: What¡¯s his status in your life? Like boyfriend, crush or brother?


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t know where he fills his shoes.


    Pathum: Hmm.. Nope, I¡¯m sorry I used that word, but all I have to say is hmm.. How can we move forward without plausible proof?


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t know. What does he want from you?


    Pathum: He told me to stay away from you or else that picture would become famous.


    Scarlet: Oh, my God, I¡¯m so stressed Pathum. I don¡¯t know what to think. How could humans be so cruel?


    Pathum: Since you said it¡¯s not your body, you don¡¯t need to be scared, so let''s face him. He may be intimidating at first but let¡¯s not fail against him, let¡¯s stay strong? Promise?


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sorry I don¡¯t know what to say. Did your mom come back? How¡¯s she doing?


    Pathum: Stop worrying about me. My mom might talk to me soon, or she might not. If she doesn¡¯t I can cut my hand and sacrifice myself to the devil so that you and her both are free from evil.


    Scarlet: Real funny stuff.


    Pathum: HEHEHE


    Scarlet: Are you okay?


    Pathum: I¡¯m just scared and sad.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t be scared.


    Pathum: What if that person posted that on the Internet?


    Scarlet: Then people will enjoy it.


    Pathum: That¡¯s not funny sweetie, we must do something. You have to inform the police about this.


    Scarlet: He says he isn¡¯t scared of the police.


    Pathum: That¡¯s what he says.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sure I¡¯m going to have a nervous breakdown soon.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry.


    We talked about a few other things while still focusing on the main topic. But realisation hits me hard because talking and thinking wouldn''t do anything good, there must be execution. If we don¡¯t take immediate action he might cause more trouble. I tried to explain it to her but she wasn¡¯t focused. It was mixed with anger and fear, her emotions taking control over her.


    It¡¯s funny how lessons we preach to each other come back as lessons we must take. I don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s supposed to be funny or scary. Even though she¡¯s also a bit scared about this situation. she didn¡¯t yet reveal about his personality. I don¡¯t know why but she hasn¡¯t decided to reveal anything yet.


    It was almost an hour before midnight, and my mom finally came into the room  and picked the two pillows of hers and turned to leave but before that I made sure I embraced her for a hug. At the beginning she forced me to let go, but I held her and then tears cascaded down her cheeks.


    ¡°Where are you going, mom?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be sharing this bed with you anymore.¡±


    ¡°No, mom. That¡¯s not what I wanted, please understand. It¡¯s just my ugly mouth.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but what¡¯s said is said.¡±


    ¡°But what are you doing now? Give me the pillows back.¡± I tried to get the pillows from her but she pushed me away.


    ¡°It¡¯s time that you have your own room.¡±


    I scratched my heat in confusion.


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about? I don¡¯t need this room by myself. Just get to bed and sleep.¡±


    She shook her head before going to the door.


    ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll be sleeping in the extra bed in your grandma¡¯s room.¡±


    No one had slept in the extra bed since my grandpa passed away. But now it was going to be hers. But i can''t just sleep in a comfortable bed when she''s uncomfortable


    I stood up, intent on coming to her. I had a determined look on my face.


    ¡°But you don¡¯t have to go, mom, just stay here.¡±


    But her next words stopped me in my tracks.


    ¡°No, Pathum, you¡¯re a young man, and have to learn to be alone. There will be more difficult times ahead of you, but if you can¡¯t learn to sleep alone how are you to face such times?¡± Her eyes welled with tears.


    ¡°Arghh okay,¡± I said, taking a deep breath.


    ¡°Besides you have a woman, so why do you need your mother? I hope you¡¯re happy with her.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s my best friend and she¡¯s not a woman. She¡¯s a girl.¡±


    ¡°Be careful, you haven¡¯t met her. She could be deceiving.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, mom.¡±


    ¡°Okay Did you fix your problem with her?¡±


    ¡°No, but we¡¯ll soon do something.¡±


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s all I wanted to hear. I love you, son,¡± she said, kissing my forehead.


    ¡°I love you too,¡± I smiled.


    But she looked at me like she heard something wrong.


    ¡°I think Scarlet is the only one you love.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t come back,¡± I said playfully and we both cracked up laughing before she grabbed the pillow and her blanket and kissed me again.


    ¡°Goodnight, sleep well.¡±


    Well I doubt whether it¡¯s going to be a good night as well as whether I can sleep well. But I smiled in response. It¡¯s good to see her smile.


    Once she was gone, I unmade the bed and settled. That¡¯s when I got a notification from the fake Scarlet. Disgusted, I opened the app.


    ¡°So mommy and her son are in the same bed? Did you miss your mom?¡±


    I growled angrily as I looked at the screen, I wanted nothing more than to punch the hell out of this loser. What a freaking son of a bitch. Wait no. Why should I insult his mother for his horrible deeds? I feel sorry for her but this fucker need to shut his mouth.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± I replied.


    Unknown (Scarlet): Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay away from her?


    Pathum: Just because you said it, doesn¡¯t mean I have to follow.


    Unknown: You¡¯ve got a smart mouth, but I doubt whether it would help you in this situation.


    Pathum: That¡¯s none of your business.


    Unknown: Oh believe me it is.


    Pathum: What do you want, man?


    Unknown: You have a temper just like her, it¡¯s cute but sad you¡¯re going to be short lived.


    Pathum: Please don¡¯t do any harm to her.


    Unknown: If you do as I tell you, I wouldn¡¯t.


    Pathum: What should I do? I won¡¯t do anything that you tell me so give up your hopes. You¡¯ll do no harm to her, you¡¯re just a fucking loser. What¡¯s the use of your pathetic life? Just leave her alone for God¡¯s sake.


    Unknown: Do you think I would listen to a baby boy who still sleeps with his mom?


    Pathum: How the hell do you know?


    Unknown: I know many things kid, so just stay away from her or else you would only have some regrets. Do you understand?


    Pathum: How do you know any of this?


    Then he proceeded to send a picture of Scarlet in a mall. To make sure whether she was in a mall, I sent her the picture and I got confirmation she¡¯s in a mall and the girl in the picture is her. This only worsened my fear. Who the hell is stalking her?


    My body started to shiver from shock.


    Unknown: Did you get the confirmation?


    Pathum: Yes. But how?

 Chapter 11

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    I looked around the mall and saw many people, but none were concerned with me. Yet I kept looking, waiting to see anyone displaying suspicious behavior. I was so busy I forgot to grab Mom¡¯s biscuits.


    Does he have agents working for him? I know one thing he has, and that¡¯s money. So, someone might help him. I wonder how I never sensed them. How did they keep an eye on me without us noticing?


    Abigail approached me and tapped me on the shoulder, making me jump. She followed my gaze with her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said quietly.


    She looked me in the eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be sorry about,¡± I replied, not wanting to continue the conversation.


    She studied me for a moment before clearing her throat.


    ¡°Well, you look awful. Are you still angry with me?¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± she asked.


    I nodded. I wasn¡¯t speaking to her because I didn¡¯t want her to know about Victor.


    Mom then came up to us, looking annoyed.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± she asked, scowling. ¡°Haven''t you both brought anything I¡¯ve told you to get?!¡±


    Abigail showed us what was in her hand, and Mom smiled before glancing at my hands. I wasn¡¯t holding anything, which made her frown at me.


    ¡°Scarlet, you better shut down that phone,¡± she said before leaving us both.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, walking towards the other side of the mall while Abigail glanced at me.


    I scanned the area to ensure I didn''t trip on something but found no one looking at me. So, I let Mom know I was going to the car before I stepped outside to get into our vehicle, and texted Pathum.


    Scarlet: Hey, I just got to the car. Mom and Abigail are still inside.


    Pathum: Sweetie, please don''t stay in the car alone. What if he comes for you?


    Scarlet: Then I¡¯ll face that bastard alone.


    Pathum: I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you. So go back inside to your mother and Abigail.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m not scared.


    Pathum: Stop being stubborn.


    Scarlet: Pathum, if someone has a problem with me, he better say it to my face.


    Pathum: Do you want to leave me alone?


    Scarlet: He isn¡¯t a serial killer, Pathum.


    Pathum: If he''s not here to kill you, what''s he after?


    Scarlet: My body.


    Pathum: That picture he sent told me everything.


    Scarlet: Even though it wasn''t me, that body has a close resemblance to mine.


    Pathum: Okay but be careful.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re more scared than me.


    Pathum: He hacked into our devices, and now you¡¯re telling me you aren''t scared.


    Scarlet: One thing I know about Victor is he¡¯s a coward. So why would I fear someone like that?


    Pathum: I don''t understand you.


    Scarlet: Well, you shouldn¡¯t. You¡¯re so childish.


    Pathum: Watch your tongue, brat.


    Scarlet: What are you going to do about it?


    Pathum: Naughty girls ought to be punished, you know that young lady?


    Scarlet: Do you think I¡¯m naughty?


    Pathum: Yes. But lock your car doors so no one can get to you.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m not scared.


    Pathum: But I am.


    Scarlet: You must help yourself then.


    Pathum: I don¡¯t know how you don¡¯t get into trouble, but just know I¡¯m trying to fix your problems while you don¡¯t give a damn about them.


    Scarlet: I dislike curse words, so don¡¯t use them.


    Pathum: I didn''t.


    Scarlet: Yes, you did.


    Pathum: No, I didn¡¯t.


    Scarlet: Google curse words, and you¡¯ll realize I¡¯m right.


    It took him less than five minutes, but he accepted his mistake. Like always, he pleaded with an ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Pathum: I never knew ¡°damn¡± was a curse word. I thought it was just a word, sweetie.


    Scarlet: It¡¯s okay. Now stop apologizing.


    Pathum: I learned many things from you, didn¡¯t I?


    Scarlet: You did.


    Pathum: Oh crap, he sent me another one, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: What¡¯s wrong?


    Instead of replying, Pathum sent me an image of me in the vehicle, taken from behind. I growled, frustrated because I failed to notice an intruder.


    Pathum: Sweetie, who knows what he¡¯s capable of?


    Scarlet: If God gives me a chance, I¡¯ll rip out his testicles with my bare hands.


    Pathum: Damn! Calm down, girl.


    Scarlet: How the hell is he doing this?


    Pathum: I wish I could tell you, but I can¡¯t. But be careful.


    Scarlet: What the hell do you think I''m doing now?


    Pathum: Calm down, sweetheart. Don''t let him get into your head.


    Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I looked around. But there was no one. How was he doing this? And why won¡¯t he stop?


    Unknown: Sweet girl, I don¡¯t want to see you in tears.


    Scarlet: Why are you doing this?


    Unknown: Because I love you!


    Scarlet: Love doesn¡¯t ruin people.


    Unknown: Love makes us do terrible things. That''s why you should protect people who love you.


    Scarlet: How do you do this?


    Unknown: As I said before, love makes us do terrible things.


    Scarlet: Leave me alone.


    Unknown: I cannot do that.


    Scarlet: Go to hell!


    Unknown: Stay safe, sweet girl.


    I didn''t respond. Why does he tell me to be safe, yet targets me?


    I¡¯m so tired; I want to lie on my bed and never get up.


    Soon, Mom and Abigail came to the car, their hands filled with groceries. By the time they got in, my tears had dried. I took a deep breath and forced a poker face to avoid conversation. I didn¡¯t want to speak about Victor in front of Abigail.


    Abigail handed the shopping bags to me and sat down. She looked awful, so I asked about it, but she shook her head. If I did that to her, we¡¯d have to have a ceremony about how rude I was.


    On the way home, Mom was mad at me for not helping her with the groceries, and Abigail was annoyed by my presence. I had to sit there and shut up while listening to their voices. Isn''t that so unfair?


    ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡± I asked Abigail while she focused on her device.


    She made a face at me and went back to her mobile. I sighed and focused on my device.


    Soon, we were home, and I had to arrange the groceries in the fridge and the kitchen. I had done nothing at the mall, and Abigail told Mom she had a nasty headache.


    Nobody wonders what''s wrong with me. And even if they did, they couldn''t help me, especially since the problem was Victor. I don''t want old memories to bloom in our garden. I doubt whether it''s sweet, but it¡¯s tiny, and I don''t want it to be spoiled by him again.


    Mom noticed my expression and gave me a concerned look once I finished putting the groceries away.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked.


    I smiled in response before going to my room. But a minute later, she came in.


    ¡°Where did you put the biscuits?¡±


    ¡°In the left drawer near the sink,¡± I replied.


    She went to look, but she returned within a minute.


    ¡°I can¡¯t find them.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± I groaned.


    ¡°They weren¡¯t where you said they were.¡±


    I got up from the bed and showed her where I had placed the biscuits. They were right there, and she insisted I get up from the bed and abandon my business to show her. My mom, while I had to do all the work, while Abigail slept in her comfy bed.


    Soon, I heard my phone ding with another message from Pathum.


    Pathum: Are you okay?


    Scarlet: I guess.


    I explained the journey from the mall to home, and tears cascaded down my face. I guess I was upset because it was too much to handle. Or was it because of the injustice that I¡¯m supposed to work while others rest?


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry, sweetie.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t be sorry for me.


    Pathum: I can do that if you promise me one thing.


    Scarlet: And that is?


    Pathum: Don¡¯t worry about me.


    Scarlet: I can¡¯t do that. I¡¯ll always care about you.


    Pathum: I can repeat those words to you, dear.


    Scarlet: Aww, sweetie!


    Pathum: Did he text you back again?


    Scarlet: I don''t want to be reminded of him. I hate him.


    Pathum: I know. But I was thinking. Did he leave any cameras around your place?


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t think so.


    Pathum: Why don¡¯t you inspect the property to make sure?


    Scarlet: Good idea, but I cannot get up.


    Nevertheless, he encouraged me to inspect the area. I checked every corner of my room and throughout the house, which took me two hours, and I found no suspicious devices.


    Relief washed over me, but soon, it turned into misery when my phone pinged with a text from him.


    Unknown: I haven¡¯t put any cameras in the house, sweet girl. Nevertheless, I¡¯d love to see you all day.


    Scarlet: How do you know that I¡¯m looking for cameras?


    Unknown: Basic observation. Hehe, sweet girl, I¡¯m not going to hurt you.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re a coward, you know that?


    Unknown: Aww, sweet girl, don''t be mad. I¡¯m still your loving Victor.


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    Scarlet: Go to hell, loser.


    Unknown: Calm down, sweet girl.


    Scarlet: You have no right to call me that.


    Unknown: Why don¡¯t you sign the papers so I can do that?


    Scarlet: Maybe in your dreams.


    Unknown: Or soon.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re a loser.


    Unknown: Sweet girl, I wondered what your family would think if they knew about us.


    Scarlet: There¡¯s no ¡®us.¡¯


    Unknown: There was.


    Scarlet: It¡¯s just a piece of my past that I burnt.


    Unknown: You can¡¯t burn your history with me.


    Scarlet: Why don¡¯t you man up and face me?


    Unknown: Where would the fun be in that?


    I left the app because I didn''t want to talk to him; I wished to delete Google Hangouts, but I¡¯d lose Pathum. I¡¯m not going to let that happen. Quitting won¡¯t solve the problem. I must figure out how he can access my life.


    Moments later, Pathum texted me.


    Pathum: Did you find anything?


    Scarlet: Nothing.


    Pathum: Maybe he hacked into your phone. How else does he know about these things?


    Scarlet: I want to kill him.


    Pathum: Me too. Anyway, can I ask you something?


    Scarlet: Go ahead.


    Pathum: I know you don''t like to dig into that, but if we are to solve this, I must learn more about him.


    Scarlet: Hmmm.


    I released a deep breath. I don''t know where to begin, but I must explain everything.


    Pathum: Don¡¯t be scared, okay?


    I replied with a simple ok and began explaining everything. At some moments, I blushed. At other points, I got mad. And at others, I was frustrated, disgusted, and ashamed.


    Scarlet: So, his name¡¯s Victor, and he¡¯s a friend I met two years ago. He¡¯s a tall, skinny, pale guy with blond hair, black eyes, and thick eyebrows. I can''t forget his eyes; you¡¯ll understand why later. I hate skinny, tall dudes. But don¡¯t worry, I love skinny, short boys. How could I not when my bestie¡¯s their prince?


    I don''t have any pictures, but you¡¯re probably wondering why I can describe his features well.


    I genuinely liked him, but fortunately, destiny made it so we couldn¡¯t be together. When we first met him, Abigail and I adored him. But we knew not to get into a relationship with him since Mom advised us against it. So, we treated him like family whenever our cousins came over.


    The fact that Abigail and I had crushes on him was awkward, but it still happened. Everything was fine until he confessed that he loved me. At first, I took it as a compliment, but it wasn''t pleasant when he explained how much he admired my body. Something was odd, but I never told my parents or Abigail.


    I didn¡¯t want to because it¡¯d affect his reputation, and I didn¡¯t want to create drama. A year ago, he told me he loved me more than any other girl. He also told me he wanted to have a piece of my body with him forever.


    Those eyes revealed their truth; it was also the day I rejected him; he took it on us. He expressed my love for him and hurt Abigail¡¯s feelings by saying I was better than her. After that day, my close relationship with Abigail deteriorated, all thanks to Victor.I have no idea how he got my pictures or edited my head onto those naked images. Trust me, I¡¯m innocent. However, it''s not surprising to see him behave this way, but it frustrates me that he¡¯s still hanging around. I want him gone. I don''t want my family to revisit the past that haunted them, so I¡¯m frustrated.


    Pathum: Thanks for explaining. Now I understand why you act the way you do.


    Scarlet: Yes.


    Pathum: So, when are you going to tell them about him?


    Scarlet: I have no idea.


    Pathum: And what about the pictures?


    Scarlet: What do you mean?


    Pathum: Are you going to inform the cops? It¡¯d be best if you did something. Don''t leave space for regret. Just explain to your family, and everything will be over.


    Scarlet: It¡¯s not that easy.


    Pathum: You must go to them, open your mouth, and let your tongue do its duty.


    Scarlet: They wouldn''t believe me if I told them about him.


    Pathum: Why wouldn''t they? Aren¡¯t they supposed to believe you over an outsider?


    Scarlet: Everyone¡¯s lives aren¡¯t a fairy tale, sweetie.


    Pathum: Why wouldn¡¯t they believe you?


    Scarlet: Because I lied to them. I liked him, and his comments made me feel better about myself. Sometimes, I would talk to him and refuse to accept that I was interested in him to my family, and since then, they have thought I was lying. They¡¯d judge me without believing me.


    Pathum: You don¡¯t know that.


    Scarlet: I do.


    Pathum: If you don¡¯t act, he¡¯ll do terrible things. You must inform the officials about this and get rid of those pictures. What would the world be if they got ahold of those images?


    Scarlet: Nothing¡¯s going to happen to me.


    Pathum: How can you be sure?


    Scarlet: I know he doesn¡¯t intend to harm me. He¡¯s a coward.


    Pathum: How are you so sure?


    Scarlet: Because he¡¯s obsessed with me, all right? He¡¯ll do anything in his power to have me in his arms.


    Pathum: You know him better than he knows himself.


    Scarlet: You see? That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about. You¡¯ve already started to suspect me.


    Pathum: No, I haven¡¯t.


    Scarlet: You have.


    Pathum: I¡¯m just surprised you know him this well.


    Scarlet: Oh, okay.


    I closed out of the app and closed my eyes, listening to the birds chirping in the distance and Mom shouting at Dad. Mom''s voice intensified as she got closer to my room and knocked on the door. I didn''t open my eyes until she screamed.


    ¡°Scarlet! What are you doing?¡±


    I shot up, looking around in confusion.


    ¡°Huh?!¡±


    Mom glared at me and crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. I gulped.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got some talking to do.¡± Her tone told me I was in trouble.


    Dad sat at the table when I entered the kitchen with his arms crossed. Abigail was just as confused as I was while looking at mom and me. She had no idea why she was there.


    Mom took a deep breath and motioned for me to sit beside Dad. She then sat down, grabbed her phone, sighed, and gave it to Abigail. Abigail screamed, fell to the chair, and turned towards me.


    I looked at Dad, who looked away from me. I soon saw Abigail crying, and Mom held onto her tears, but she started weeping.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You have some nerve asking that,¡± Mom glanced at me, her eyes full of tears.


    ¡°Mom, tell me what I¡¯ve done,¡± I said.


    She took a deep breath and then passed her phone to me. It was that image that he sent Pathum. I furrowed my eyebrows in horror and confusion. I can''t comprehend the meaning of this. What¡¯s his motive?


    Mom clenched her fists while Dad laid his hands on his face and bowed his head. He never looked at me, even if I wanted to establish eye contact.


    ¡°How did you get it?¡± I asked in a trembling voice.


    Mom looked at me in fury.


    ¡°Mom-¡° I began to say, but she slapped me.


    The pain caused tears to cascade down my cheeks.


    ¡°Is this what you¡¯ve been taught to do, Scarlet?¡± Mom said, shaking me.


    ¡°It¡¯s not me.¡±


    She scoffed.


    ¡°After everything you did, you¡¯re telling me that you- I - how are you even talking to us? Aren¡¯t you ashamed?¡±


    I shook my head, choking back tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m being honest,¡± I said, wiping my tears.


    Mom, of course, didn¡¯t look like she believed me.


    ¡°Oh, for God¡¯s sake, I¡¯m not blind. That naked girl¡®s body looks like yours.¡±


    I protested.


    ¡°But I NEVER sent such a picture to anyone.¡±


    ¡°Then how could someone have this?¡±


    I let out a groan before dropping my head into my hands.


    ¡°While it¡¯s my face, it¡¯s not my body. We can go to the washroom if you want me to prove it. And the messages are from Victor. He¡¯s blackmailed me and threatened Pathum,¡± I explained, tears welling up in my eyes.


    She raised her hand, motioning me to stop. When she opened her mouth to speak, her voice was incredulous.


    ¡°Victor?¡±


    I nodded frantically, my eyes teary and my expression truthful.


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s back, and I don''t know what he¡¯ll do. I expect the worst to happen.¡±


    I then spent the next few minutes showing my parents and Abigail everything Victor sent me. With every message, Mom''s faith in me grew. Relief washed over me. When I was done, Mom looked at me.


    ¡°How did he get the emails?¡±


    I shrugged.


    ¡°Only God knows!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t say that. If you never gave it to him, how does he have them?¡±


    Dad cleared his throat, speaking up for the first time in several minutes.


    ¡°We should let the police handle this.¡±


    Mom sighed before facing her husband, her hands rubbing her temples. She had dark circles under her eyes and a permanent frown.


    ¡°Victor told me he would post these pictures on the Internet if we did.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have the balls to do that,¡± I replied, wiping my tears.


    Mom turned on me, her expression defensive.


    ¡°You seem to know about him more than we do. Don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Mom, as I¡¯ve shown you, it isn¡¯t me, and I¡¯ve had no contact with him since last year,¡± I said, making my tone as honest as possible.


    Mom huffed before giving me a look.


    ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯ll have to believe you this time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you have to!¡± I shouted.


    Mom then looked at Abigail, who hadn¡¯t said anything. She had tears streaking down her face, and she could barely look at me.


    ¡°Abigail, what do you have to say about all of this?¡± our mother asked.


    However, Abigail didn¡¯t look at Mom or acknowledge her words, much to her surprise. She was looking straight at me. When I heard her speak, I was surprised by her shocked tone.


    ¡°Scarlet, how¡¯s this possible?¡±


    I tugged at my hair in frustration.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±


    ¡°Did you ever send him pictures?¡±


    I wouldn''t say I liked it when they believed the words of an outsider. Why can¡¯t they believe me? What¡¯s Abigail trying to prove?


    ¡°Seriously? No, I didn¡¯t. Ugh! I can¡¯t believe you people!¡± I stood up, hoping to go to my room, but Abigail touched my hand.


    I tried to shake her hand off, but she dragged me back to the seat. With tears in her eyes, she met my gaze.


    ¡°Be honest with me and tell me what happened.¡±


    I gave her a suspicious look.


    ¡°What are you up to?¡± I asked, but she stopped me.


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°Tell you what?¡± I asked, glancing at her in annoyance.


    ¡°Did you send him pictures hoping to win his love?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± I pushed her away.


    She followed me, tears cascading down her cheeks. She gave me a determined look.


    ¡°I want to help you.¡±


    ¡°With what? I told you guys I never sent him such a picture and may have liked him, but I stopped talking to him when I realized what he was after. So, stop assuming I SENT HIM ANY PICTURES!¡± I slammed my fist on the table as I spoke.


    ¡°Then how could he have done this?¡± Mom asked as tears fell from her eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s what editing is for. So, stop being suspicious of me and believe what I¡¯m saying is true,¡± I said, hoping my words touched their hearts.


    It seems they did because my mom gave me a look of compassion and reached out to touch my hand. My sister then did the same.


    ¡°I''m so sorry he did this to you, he¡¯s sick,¡± she said.


    I didn''t expect to hear nice words from her, but it seemed like my lucky day.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± I told her sincerely.


    But Abigail shook her head, her face turning red with fury.


    ¡°He¡¯s a son of a bitch! How dare he do this to you!¡± she yelled.


    Mom and I looked at her, unsurprised by her language.


    ¡°Umm¡­ Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°No! We must go to the police, Scarlet.¡±


    Dad stood up, breaking the silence.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go. You guys stay here.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re coming too,¡± Mom said stubbornly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a baby, Daisy.¡±


    ¡°I know that, my dear husband, but let us accompany you.¡±


    Seeing the determined looks we were giving him, he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before nodding. Soon, we were on our way to the police station.


    It wasn''t crowded when we arrived, but there were a few officers since it was late at night. Two officers led us to the Police Chief, and a nice guy named Michael wrote down our complaint in a book along with Victor¡¯s email.


    He told us he would update us when he had something new to tell us. When we were about to leave, a fat officer walked in. He didn¡¯t look assiduous, assuming from his features and the doughnut. He glanced at Michael.


    ¡°What are they here for?¡±


    ¡°A complaint of blackmailing and possession of unwanted pictures.¡±


    The fat officer shrugged and took the file in Michael¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Do we know the suspect?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s Victor,¡± Michael remarked.


    The man scratched his head in disbelief.


    ¡°Victor Gilligan? It can''t be. He¡¯s changed,¡± the fat man said, offering his file.


    However, Michael slammed his fist onto the file and glared at the other man. He was foaming at the mouth when he spoke.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let him run free this time, Freddy.¡±


    Freddy laughed.


    ¡°You¡¯re stupid to mess with him, boy.¡±


    My mom stepped forward, entering their conversation. She planted her hands on the desk and looked at them, a serious expression on her face.


    ¡°If this man has a record of blackmailing women, you ought to catch him.¡±


    Freddy gave my mom a once over before scowling at us.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, don¡¯t tell us how to do our job,¡± he said.


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have to if you had done it properly.¡± Dad stepped forward against Freddy¡¯s remark.


    To prevent Dad from attacking the officer, Mom grabbed Dad¡¯s hand to pull him back. Freddy glanced at us, threw the file on the table, and left. Silence spread through the room before Michael apologized for his companion¡¯s behavior. We dismissed the insult as we focused more on Michael¡¯s demure nature in handling the case.


    We thanked him and went on our way. But while we were in the car, I got a message from Victor.


    Unknown: The police won¡¯t stop me, sweet girl.


    Scarlet: How did you know that?


    Unknown: I have my eyes on you. I also know that you¡¯re on the way home. But of course, I know many things.


    After that last message, I didn''t reply, nor did he send me any more messages.


    How on earth did he know that we were at the police station? Did that fat man inform him?


    When I got home, I went into my room, and  couldn''t help but text Pathum. He''s the only one I have.


    Pathum: Sweetie, calm down.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m just bothered.


    Pathum: I know.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m annoyed he has access to my life.


    Pathum: I know. But why isn¡¯t he intimidated by the police?


    Scarlet: He¡¯s rich.


    Pathum: That may also mean he has guys working for him in the police station.


    Scarlet: That makes sense. But an officer ought to work according to the law, right?


    Pathum: Money can do many things, like help a criminal turn innocence into guilt.


    Scarlet: If that¡¯s our world, Pathum, I feel haggard.


    Pathum: Haggard?


    Scarlet: Yes.


    Pathum: Okay¡­


    Scarlet: Do you need help figuring out what it means?


    Pathum: No, I know the meaning of that word. I don''t need you or Google because life has shredded me so haggard.


    Scarlet: Oh, you¡¯re a brat!


    Pathum: And you¡¯re a princess!


    Scarlet: Are you sure?


    Pathum: 100% percent, ma¡¯am.


    Scarlet: Wonderful. Anyway, I guess I¡¯ll go to sleep early.


    Pathum: Good idea, sweetie.


    Scarlet: And I need you to study rather than worry about my problems.


    Pathum: There isn¡¯t such a thing as ¡®yours¡¯ but ¡®ours.¡¯


    Scarlet: Aww! But we aren¡¯t going to focus on me.


    Pathum: Not happening. It would help if you got your sleep now, ma¡¯am.


    Scarlet: You think sleep would do any good for me? I must wake up knowing that the pervert is still alive.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry.


    Scarlet: Me too.


    Pathum: Don¡¯t say that. You¡¯ve done nothing for me, so stop.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sorry. This conversation was all about me; how was the class today? Are you comfortable with your online courses?


    Pathum: Even though I was initially hesitant, I now love them. Mainly because I don¡¯t have to get dressed and go into a classroom with them, there¡¯s no human contact. So, I can say that today¡¯s lecture went well.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m happy for you.


    Pathum: Hehehehe.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re cute.


    Pathum: Not even close.


    Scarlet: Shut up brat! Anyway, I might fall asleep soon.


    Pathum: I know, darling. Have a good night.


    Scarlet: Goodnight, sweetie!


    I lay in bed, closing my eyes, but heard a sound at my door. But when I opened my eyes, there was no one. Then, there was a notification on my phone. I opened it and saw it was from him.


    Unknown: Struggling to fall asleep, sweet girl?


    Scarlet: What the hel do you want?


    Unknown: Sweet girl, calm down.


    Scarlet: Stop calling me that!


    Unknown: Freddy admitted you¡¯re hot.


    Gross. I thought with a disgusted shudder.


    Scarlet: That freak.


    Unknown: Have a good night, sweet girl!

 Chapter 12

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    Even though it had been a while since she fell asleep, I couldn¡¯t shake off the thought that Scarlet was being stalked. How in the world could people do such horrible things? I mean, why is this person doing this? Whatever the outcome is, I¡¯ll always stick by her side. She needs someone to be there for her. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn¡¯t notice my mom glancing at me occasionally.


    ¡°Son, what are you daydreaming about her?¡±


    I looked over at her and shook my head.


    ¡°No.¡±


    My mom raised an eyebrow at me while handing me a cup of my favorite tea.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s far from the truth,¡± she said. ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s happened now?¡±


    Sighing, I took a sip of my beverage before placing it on the table and turning to face her. She was staring at me expectantly, her dark eyes boring deep into my soul. I cleared my throat, prepared to speak.


    ¡°Well, Scarlet and her family went to the police and complained to the Chief about the stalking and the pictures.¡±


    My mom gave me a relieved look, putting her hand on my shoulder.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Do they know who¡¯s behind this?¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°Is it someone close to them or a stranger?¡±


    A lump settled in my throat, the thought of him coming to the surface. I had to take a few sips of my beverage before speaking again.


    ¡°Yes, it is someone they know.¡±


    My mom gave me a sympathetic look.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s terrible.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know,¡± I said before I finished the tea.


    ¡°So, will they catch him?¡±


    ¡°I hope so.¡±


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s hope they do. But don¡¯t think about that too much. Let Scarlet and her family deal with their problems, okay?¡± she told me, touching my arm with concern across her face.


    ¡°Okay,¡± I replied, but she didn¡¯t look satisfied with my answer.


    ¡°I mean it. You must stop worrying about this girl and focus on your studies.¡±


    ¡°I am, mom.¡±


    She shook her head at me.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡±


    I stubbornly stood up and put my hands on my mom¡¯s shoulders. I looked deep into her eyes and spoke with the most severe expression possible.


    ¡°I know, but she needs my help.¡±


    My tone must have gotten to her because she sighed within the next few moments. She gave me a defeated look. She knew she was fighting a losing battle, but she wouldn¡¯t give up before she told me one thing.


    ¡°Be careful, son.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, I am,¡± I smiled, hoping it would eliminate any stress on my face. Luckily, it did. She was pleased with my words and smile.


    ¡°I know. But at the end of the day, remember Scarlet is a stranger,¡± she warned as she caressed my hair.


    ¡°A stranger?¡± I asked, looking into her eyes, which were full of concern.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t met her in person, darling. So, she¡¯s technically still a stranger to you.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± I asked, trying to deny her words.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying you still don¡¯t know her, so don¡¯t argue with me about this, son.¡± She touched my face. I offered her a grin, but she didn¡¯t say anything before she touched my forehead. ¡°You love this girl, don¡¯t you?¡± She turned my chin to hers.


    ¡°Of course. He is my bestie.¡±


    ¡°Him?¡± She raised both her brows.


    ¡°I meant her,¡± I corrected.


    She laughed slightly before putting her hand up to stop my rambling.


    ¡°Calm down. You almost changed her gender.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± I scratched my head.


    ¡°You love her, don¡¯t you?¡± she smiled.


    I blushed as I tried to look away from her knowing expression. When I spoke, I was stammering.


    ¡°Well, she¡¯s the only friend I have. Even though I have friends in school, they weren¡¯t interested in talking with me. However, she¡¯s very interested, so yes, Mom, I love her,¡± I said, letting out a breath.


    My mom squeezed my cheeks, and her eyes shone with happiness as she looked at me excitedly.


    ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t believe my son has grown up, and he even has a girlfriend! But as always, be careful, and don¡¯t get too attached.¡±


    I went into denial almost immediately.


    ¡°Mom, she¡¯s not my girlfriend.¡±


    My mom rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Oh, stop the drama, boy.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?! For the last time, Scarlet isn¡¯t my girlfriend. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask her mom.¡± I averted my gaze and stepped away from her.


    My mom glanced at me sideways before her gaze fell to my phone¡¯s screen. She pointed at it as she spoke, amusement permeating her tone.


    ¡°Then what about those heart-shaped messages she sent you?¡±


    I let out an irritated huff.


    ¡°Mom, she is my bestie. Like I said a few minutes ago, you can ask her about it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s not argue about that now. Focus on this,¡± she said, pointing towards the pile of books. Of course, it''s what I need to focus on.


    Once she was gone, I looked up some Chemistry MCQ questions and worked on them.


    I didn¡¯t touch my phone as I was focused on my studies, and she was asleep. But only then did I mention a new notification popup from Google Hangouts. It seems like she¡¯s having a difficult time falling asleep. I took a break from studying and opened the app, but to my frustration, it wasn¡¯t Scarlet but him.


    Unknown: You don¡¯t seem to understand English, do you?


    Pathum: What do you mean by that?


    Unknown: Why haven¡¯t you stopped talking to her?


    Pathum: Who are you to ask me that?


    Unknown: Wow, you¡¯re violent. Did she teach you some anger lessons?


    Pathum: No, she didn¡¯t, and you need to stop doing this. Please, I beg of you, leave her alone, take that picture off your device, and stop torturing her. She hasn¡¯t done any harm to you.


    Unknown: She has done some harmful deeds for which I should repay her.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Pathum: Sure, you will. The police will catch you soon.


    Unknown: The police? Haha, you¡¯re funny. Tell me some more jokes, please. The officers would kiss my feet and set me free, so stop being hopeful about that idea.


    Pathum: What do you want from her?


    Unknown: Oh, you already know.


    Pathum: Seriously?! Why can¡¯t you leave her alone?


    Unknown: The same reason why you can¡¯t. Love, sweet boy, love.


    Pathum: Oh, no, no, no, don¡¯t even think for a single second that we¡¯re equal. You and I were never equal.


    Unknown: You¡¯re defensive. But the truth is both of us are the same, sweet boy. We both want her, don¡¯t we?


    Pathum: NO! I don¡¯t want her the way that you want her. So, could you not compare me to you, you loser?


    Unknown: Are you denying that she has a hot body?


    Pathum: You fucked up piece of shit; she¡¯s my bestie, not my girlfriend. Do you understand? I don¡¯t give a crap whether she has a body or not. I value her for her heart and mind, not her body, unlike you, you¡¯re insane, you obsessive fucker.


    Unknown: How come you haven''t fallen for her body? Maybe you are gay.


    Pathum: I¡¯m not gay, you idiot. Just because you¡¯re incapable of maintaining respectful relationships with females doesn¡¯t mean every man is like you or must be like you. However, this world is messed up because of people like you who live in delusional fantasies.


    Unknown: Wow. Those are some words coming from a sweet little boy who still sleeps with his mother.


    Pathum: Shut up. You¡¯re a sick, insane, fucking mess.


    Unknown: Sweet boy.


    Pathum: The real question should be, aren¡¯t you acting gay?


    Unknown: I saw your pictures, too; I admit I questioned whether its Scarlet or you that I want more.


    What the heck? I thought, furrowing my eyebrows in disgust before I exited the app.


    There¡¯s no more point in talking with this bastard. He undoubtedly has a mental illness. Why haven¡¯t I blocked him? Well, blocking won¡¯t stop him from torturing Scarlet. So, I must help her before resolving my peace. I won¡¯t block him until we find a solution.


    So, after finishing the chemistry questions, I moved on to my favourite subject, Biology. And I started to study the ongoing lesson of my class, unit five, about animals and their functions. I learned about epithelial tissues, and due to the precise arrangement of the notes, I could memorize the points¡ªcredits to our biology teacher.


    I looked over my notes when my grandma entered my bedroom with some teacups.


    ¡°Hey, do you want some tea?¡± she asked, making sure her hand gesture looked like she was holding a cup to her mouth. It was a silly gesture, making me shake my head like a gorilla. I ensured my voice was loud enough to get her attention because she had hearing issues.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I said while maintaining my head movement.


    With a smile, she left and returned ten minutes later with a teacup full of steaming hot tea.


    I don¡¯t understand why people love tea so much. I¡¯m surprised that foreigners love tea or that Ceylon tea is the most notorious tea brand in Sri Lanka. I want to admire tea like a foreigner but don¡¯t understand the taste. Plain tea is just hot water. I guess we¡¯re poor. So, maybe the tea that the foreigners try is more luxurious.


    But is it? Well, we¡¯ll never know until we become rich. I admit when we add powdered milk, it¡¯s excellent, but that¡¯s not tea. Maybe they drink something besides tea, just like the tea tastes better with ginger.


    ¡°It¡¯s so sunny outside today, I can¡¯t even look out the window,¡± my grandma said before taking a sip of her tea.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to bathe today?¡± I asked while looking at the surroundings occupied by trees and the bright, warm sunlight.


    ¡°Yeah, I am once I¡¯m finished with this,¡± she confirmed.


    ¡°Do you want any biscuits?¡± I offered her some while eating one.


    She shook her head and laughed.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m still eating the first one you gave me.¡±


    Soon, I saw that her cup was almost empty, and I was taking my final sip. But before she finished her tea, I needed to think of a topic to continue this conversation. I first thought about some gossip, but she wasn¡¯t in the mood for that, so I chose to talk about my studies.


    ¡°So, Grandma, I just finished studying yesterday¡¯s class notes,¡± I said and showed her my biology textbook.


    She admired it, slowly turning the pages and carefully touching each paper. When she was done, she returned it and smiled at me kindly.


    ¡°You have beautiful handwriting.¡±


    Instead of replying, I shook my head, but my heart secretly smiled at her comment.


    ¡°Study well, my little son; however, study to become a doctor. It¡¯s a great profession. Saving lives is a great career.¡± She touched my head, much to my amusement.


    She usually does this. I¡¯m her little son, so she always addresses me by that. Her dream is to see me in a doctor¡¯s coat. Luckily for her, it¡¯s also mine, and I believe I can do that.


    I may be far away from that dream, but I¡¯ll continue my journey. And one day, I¡¯ll be proud of myself.


    Now that we had both finished with our tea, my grandma took my cup with her, and after studying nutrition and the digestive system, I stopped. Around five in the evening, I went to have my bath. It took thirty minutes, but when I returned, I found a text from Scarlet.


    I opened it up.


    Pathum: Good morning, sweetie.


    Scarlet: Morning.


    Pathum: Is he bothering you again?


    Scarlet: Yeah.


    She then sent screenshots of his chat, which was short and sweet for him but terrible for us. He said that he was more interested in me than her, so he was probably playing with us.


    Pathum: Is he joking?


    Scarlet: I think he¡¯s being serious.


    Pathum: You¡¯re kidding¡­..


    Scarlet: I¡¯m not, darling. There were rumors about his liking towards males, so I guess he¡¯s being more honest with himself.


    Pathum: Well darling, is he cute?


    Scarlet: Pathum!!!


    Pathum: Does that mean yes?


    Scarlet: Ewww!!! That was not funny!


    Pathum: I was trying to make you laugh. Anyway, don¡¯t you think he¡¯s a psychotic and peculiar person? Or, in other words, sick.


    Scarlet: Yeah, he¡¯s a sick bastard.


    Pathum: Wait, how the hell did he get my picture?


    Scarlet: I was thinking the same thing since I got those messages.


    Pathum: We¡¯ve got to do something about him. The police must be faster in conducting their investigation. But I don¡¯t understand¡­ How does he have access to our devices?


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t know, but my head is about to explode.


    Pathum: Why can¡¯t he let you go?


    Scarlet: Not sure. But anyway, Mom got a call from the police station, and you don¡¯t want to know what they said.


    Pathum: Tell me.


    Scarlet: Pathum¡­


    Pathum: Yes, sweetie?


    Scarlet: They told us the complaint is invalid.


    Pathum: What? I don¡¯t understand¡­¡­


    Scarlet: Victor denied it was him.


    Pathum: And the police believe that.


    Scarlet: Without actual context, we can¡¯t frame someone. So we need proof. But do you know what the funny part is?


    Pathum: Hmm?


    Scarlet: The police accused me of being a gold digger.


    Pathum: Those freaking losers. I thought there was at least one person who was willing to help us out. But it seems to not be the case.


    Scarlet: I thought so, too.


    Pathum: Now, how can we stop him? He can¡¯t just do this! Scarlet, this isn¡¯t just a silly case. The police ought to do a thorough investigation rather than listen to words and nod their heads at people with golden teeth.


    Scarlet: I know¡­ but my mom¡¯s calling me, so I must go.


    For God¡¯s sake, this can¡¯t be happening. How can someone access our daily life and meddle with it for fun? The world is unfair, and I wonder where God is in all the crimes. But I hope whoever or wherever God is, he shall take care of this scene soon. He needs to fix this before leading one of us to death. So please, whoever is listening, take this criminal out of our lives and set us free.


    I closed my eyes and contemplated my heavy breathing. I don¡¯t know what to make out of it.


    Scarlet: Hey, we got another call from the police.


    Pathum: Now, what do they want?


    Scarlet: The case is still on, but they need more solid evidence within two weeks that someone¡¯s playing with our lives.


    Pathum: Aren¡¯t they supposed to do that? Are we the police now, and they¡¯re the court waiting for proof?


    Scarlet: Pathum, it¡¯s just messed up. No matter what we do, they can close the case with a briefcase of dollars.


    Pathum: So, what do we do?


    Scarlet: I could ask the same thing.


    Pathum: Uhhhh¡­..


    Scarlet: We need to figure out how he has hacked our devices and is stalking us. If we can do this, we might be able to solve this.


    Pathum: Well, what exactly does he know? True, he has taken pictures of you and me, but has he accessed everything? Has he hacked an app or the entire device?


    Scarlet: About your picture.


    Pathum: Yeah, what about it?


    Scarlet: He said he had seen you but didn¡¯t show me. Maybe he¡¯s lying?


    Pathum: Ask him and tell him to prove it.


    Scarlet: All right. Give me a second.


    She took three minutes to confirm it, and she sent me his picture. I studied the image of me, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. I then typed out a message and sent it to Scarlet.


    Pathum: Is that everything he has of me?


    Scarlet: I¡¯m not certain. According to the way he was talking, it seems to be the only one he has. That¡¯s very strange.


    Pathum: What''s strange about it?


    Scarlet: OMG Pathum¡­


    Pathum: Yes, sweetie, what¡¯s wrong?


    Scarlet: It¡¯s the only picture of you that I¡¯ve shared.


    Pathum: Shared with whom?


    Scarlet: Pathum, pray to God that she didn¡¯t do this.


    Pathum: Who is this woman or girl you speak of?


    Scarlet: No, I can¡¯t believe it. It can¡¯t be. It¡¯s been a year. I think I might pass out, Pathum. I¡¯m feeling faint.


    Pathum: Sweetie, calm down, and tell me who you shared it with.


    Scarlet: I AM GONNA KILL HER if it¡¯s true.

 Chapter 13

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    No, it can¡¯t be true. I won¡¯t believe it; for God¡¯s sake, I wouldn¡¯t want to. My hands started to shiver, and I dropped my phone, the device crashing on my toes. It can¡¯t be¡­ she cannot do this. I bent down to grab my phone but stayed there for a while. My mom noticed and shook my hand vigorously to bring me back into reality.


    ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡±


    ¡°Mom?¡± I said. My emotions played a part in it. I need to hold my nerve, or there will be consequences later.


    ¡°What?¡± My mom glanced at me, almost surprised.


    ¡°Oh, nothing; I¡¯m looking for Abigail. Where is she?¡±


    My mom looked confused before answering me while narrowing her eyes.


    ¡°She¡¯s in her room.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Thanks.¡±


    I walked towards Abigail¡¯s room and knocked on the door, but no response came, so I raised my voice. She was aggravated and told me to go away, but I remained and called her name again. After a minute of knocking, she finally answered, and soon, I rushed into her room, searching for her mobile. I then saw it was on the bed, but before I could grab it, she snatched up the phone and switched it off, but I recognized the recipient''s name.


    Victor.


    I fumed and glared at her, but she glanced away, acting as she didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to hide it. I already saw the name,¡± I growled.


    She sent me a look, but that didn¡¯t cause me to step back.


    ¡°Mind your own business, Scarlet,¡± she said, avoiding my gaze.


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t, you¡­.¡± I pointed a shaking finger at her,


    She rolled her eyes.


    ¡°I, what?¡±


    I stepped forward until I was nearly in her face, my voice rising angrily at her betrayal. She looked surprised by my reaction, not even bothering to hide it.


    ¡°How could you do this to me?!¡±


    She began to shake from fear but still motioned me to leave the room, avoiding my gaze. Of course, I didn¡¯t go. I stayed right where I was. The realization of what happened had us both shaking.


    ¡°So, he didn¡¯t hack me. He hacked you,¡± I said. I cannot confirm her emotions, but she was trembling.


    ¡°It¡¯s not what you think it is,¡± she gulped.


    I scoffed, letting out a mocking laugh. This made her jump.


    ¡°Oh, do explain, dear sister, explain. I - you just.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. Please let me explain, and don¡¯t shout. Mom would hear us. Scarlet, I beg of you, calm down.¡± She touched my hands and tried to calm me. By the looks of it, it can be said that she¡¯s scared.


    ¡°Calm down?¡± Whispers escaped my mouth, and I felt my tongue itching to clench its thirst. My whole body shivered, yet drops of cold sweat cascaded down my face.


    I looked at Abigail and saw that she was in a similar state.


    ¡°Scarlet ¡­.. I can explain.¡± she started to stutter.


    ¡°Explain? Explain what?¡± I snorted until she sighed and raised her hand to slow me down.


    ¡°Please, Scarlet. This is not the time for drama.¡± She glared at me; it was a nervous glare but not enough to shut me down. There''s no shutting me down now.


    How¡¯s she talking? How¡¯s she standing in front of me? I can¡¯t believe she had the nerve to speak to me. For Lucifer¡¯s sake, is this my biological sister?


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. Are you sure you know me? Do you, Abigail?¡±  I looked at her, raising both my hands.


    ¡°Now is not the time for drama, Scarlet.¡±


    Laughing sardonically, I shook my head.


    ¡°Drama? Oh, dear God, you were behind everything after all this torment I went through, yet you don¡¯t even apologize for any of it.¡±


    She raised her hands defensively and looked at me, her green eyes stern.


    ¡°Please listen to me, I had my reasons.¡±


    ¡°Listen to you?¡± I walked up to her and looked into her eyes. They told me nothing but betrayal.


    She cleared her throat, her tone irritated.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know my part of the story, yet here you are, jumping to conclusions.¡±


    I shook my head, cutting off her words and scowling at her. I was seconds away from turning and walking away. I didn¡¯t want to hear more of what she had to say.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to know how you could¡¯ve done that. How could you lie to us, Abigail?¡± Tears cascaded down my cheeks. She attempted to wipe them away, but I shrugged her hand off. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about touching me with those dirty hands of yours.¡±


    ¡°Scarlet, please give me a chance to explain myself,¡± she pleaded, her eyes wide.


    However, Mom, having heard our conversation, appeared at the door before she could.


    ¡°Explain what?¡± she asked.


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    Abigail turned ashen, directed her gaze towards me, and stuttered.


    ¡°Umm... about...¡±


    I could see her eyes pleading with me to come up with anything that would be a better answer than the truth. So, being the good sister I am, I stepped forward and plastered a smile on my face, clasping my hands in front of me.


    ¡°About the problem with the hairdryer.¡±


    Mom¡¯s eyes narrowed as she stared us down.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the hairdryer?¡±


    She raised both her hands and cracked up while winking at Abigail.


    ¡°Abigail broke it,¡± I said immediately.


    Mom rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Forgive your sister, and don¡¯t argue with her. Will you promise you¡¯ll do that for me?¡±


    ¡°But Mom-¡± I hesitated. But she glared at me. I groaned before nodding. ¡°Okay, I promise.¡±


    ¡°Good. Now, girls, let¡¯s get ready. We must go to the store and meet our priest on the way. His mother is sick,¡± Mom said, cupping my cheeks and tapping Abigail on the shoulder while leaving the room. ¡°And wear some makeup, Abigail. You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±


    Abigail half-smiled at Mom before she turned and stared at me. Once she was out of sight, she came and thanked me, but I shrugged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever think I¡¯ll ever forgive you. You¡¯re lucky I didn¡¯t tell her. Because if I told her about what you¡¯ve done, she¡¯d be so disappointed, especially coming from her favorite child.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the favorite child?¡± she laughed.


    ¡°Yes, you are. I¡¯m done talking to you,¡± I replied before storming out of the room. She tried to stop me while I was on the way, but I ignored her.


    I stomped down the hall in frustration; I wanted nothing to do with her anymore.


    I slammed my bedroom door and fell onto my bed. All sorts of thoughts came into my mind, and I couldn¡¯t comprehend which ones to believe and which to ignore. I became lost in the sea of ideas. The only help I seek is from Pathum. He¡¯s the only one who cares about me.


    I texted him and got a quick reply.


    Pathum: Oh, sweetie, I¡¯m so sorry.


    Scarlet: Yeah, me too. I can¡¯t believe she did this. I don¡¯t know what to say, Pathum.


    Pathum: I can¡¯t believe it, either. Let''s not jump to conclusions. Maybe she has some reasons.


    Scarlet: What more do I need to see?


    Pathum: Maybe you should listen to what she has to say. Let¡¯s not be quick to assume things. Maybe she was trying to help you, you know?


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know who to believe and whom not to.


    Pathum: That¡¯s okay. I understand.


    Scarlet: Do you, sweetie?


    Pathum: First things first, calm down, okay? Panicking and jumping to conclusions is not good. So don''t jump into such things. Let''s first calm our nerves.


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t know what to say.


    I groaned after sending the message. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore. How could she do this? How did she do this? What motive does she have? I don''t know¡­. God, please help me. Teach me how to love her. Teach my patience, for I don''t know anything of it, nor could I yield it.


    I heard a few knocks on my door, so I reluctantly got up to see who it was. I could see the person approaching me. With careful steps, she stopped at my feet, but I didn''t open my eyes.


    We stayed that way for a few minutes until she found the courage to speak.


    ¡°Scarlet, we need to talk.¡± It was like a whisper, but I didn¡¯t seem to care. Eyes closed, I stayed silent and unmoving. ¡°You don¡¯t know the story behind this, so don¡¯t judge me so soon. Let me at least speak.¡± I didn¡¯t respond to her. After waiting about a minute, she sat on my bed beside me. ¡°He threatened me, Scarlet. That¡¯s why I did what I did.¡±


    ¡°What did he threaten you with, Abigail?¡± I raised my voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to explain it.¡± I could feel the shame and regret in her voice, so I looked at her, hoping it would encourage her to speak to me. Judging by her body language, it seemed to have worked. She directed her gaze at me and sighed.


    ¡°How long have you been talking to him?¡±


    She looked at me before sighing. She sounded so tired.


    ¡°Scarlet..¡±


    ¡°How long?¡± I pressed, locking my eyes with hers.


    She averted her gaze from mine before replying hesitantly.


    ¡°About two months.¡±


    Two months? I thought, horrified.


    I narrowed my eyes at her before sitting up and crossing my arms. When I spoke, my voice was calm.


    ¡°Why was he talking to you?¡±


    When I asked her the question, she looked at the floor and fell into contemplation. But after letting go of a sigh, she told me.


    ¡°He said he was in love with me.¡±


    I gaped. Oh, God, not this again!


    ¡°And you believed him?!¡±


    She stood up and began to pace, still talking.


    ¡°He convinced me that he loves me and took advantage of it.¡±


    ¡°I don''t understand. Didn''t he say he didn''t have feelings towards you?" I asked,


    Her voice was quiet when she answered my question, and she sounded much younger than her age.


    ¡°I thought he had changed.¡±


    I shook my head stubbornly, looking at her with something akin to pity in my eyes.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not the case.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°Both you and Mom didn''t trust me when I told you guys what he was after. That''s the truth."


    ¡°Now, Scarlet¡­..¡±


    I glared at her harshly.


    ¡°Are you going to deny it?¡± I demanded, and she contemplated the question for a few minutes before shaking her head.


    ¡°I was a fool to fall for him, Scarlet.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you were. Tell me, why did you do any of this for him?¡±


    Abigail looked at the floor for a long time while I continued to sit there, glaring at her. She could feel the heat coming from it, so she avoided my eyes. I was surprised when she managed to speak a few minutes later.


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, he started to blackmail me, and he asked for some favours in return.¡±


    ¡°What did he blackmail you with?¡±


    She looked away, but I still saw tears in her eyes. We stood there silently until she was ready to speak.


    ¡°You know that picture he had of you¡­. the one he sent Mom and Pathum?¡±


    I nodded, looking at her warily.


    ¡°Yeah¡­. what about it?¡±


    She looked at me and released a deep sigh.


    ¡°Even though you said the picture was only of your face, but not your body, it took me a while to understand, but once I did, I wanted to kill that bastard.¡±


    ¡°I know, but it wasn¡¯t me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, confused, as my gaze fell on her.


    ¡°The body, and how it looked like you, but wasn¡¯t you.¡±


    ¡°I get it, Abigail; I know I was right.¡±


    Tears were now pouring down her face and she hastily tried to wipe them away, but of course, I noticed.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± I asked.


    She looked away, so I touched her hand. However, she shrugged me off and exited the bed to move toward the door.


    ¡°Oh, Scarlet,¡± she said, and I looked at her with interest. Tears started to cascade down her cheeks. ¡°Your suspicions were right. It wasn¡¯t your body, but it had a close resemblance to yours.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, unable to decipher the meaning of her words.


    ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡± With that, she left the room.


    I stayed like that for a while, and then it got to my brain.


    Everything around me started to sink, and I was drowning. Finding the last bit of energy I had, I texted Pathum. I couldn''t open the Google Hangouts app as tears clouded my vision and sweat wet my hands. After wiping it away, I managed to somehow get into the app.


    I texted Pathum, and he replied instantly.


    Pathum: What¡¯s with the picture, sweetie?


    Scarlet: It¡¯s not mine.


    Pathum: Umm, okay?


    Scarlet: It¡¯s my sister¡¯s.

 Preface

    Hello there!


    I am sorry for posting this part of the book later but since I am new to the platform I didnt know how it works.


    So this book will be the story of two people who fell in love through an online platform ; Wattpad.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Thank you for reading the book.


    I hope you enjoy it. And do mind there will be a lot of mistakes. You can let me know in the comments which I want to improve.


    Again thank you for reading! if you think it''s worth please do share and let more people read.

 Based & Dedication & Acknowledgements

    Based on a True story


    This book is dedicated to my mother & Karissa


    The part of the book where I appreciate those who help me. First and foremost thank you for reading! It means a lot Keep reading, voting, commenting and sharing. I thank both my parents. Thank you mom, for helping me when I needed it the most. And thank you Karissa, you changed my life into something much better. Also thanks to my friend and editor for helping me with the stories.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Hope you enjoy reading!

 Chapter 14

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    What the heck? It can¡¯t be. Is she seriously saying this? How could it be? I just.. don¡¯t know what to think of it.


    Pathum: I don¡¯t know what to say, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Neither do I.


    Pathum: Are you sure?


    Scarlet: Yes. She confirmed it herself.


    Pathum: So¡­. All the emails, pictures, and locations, everything¡­. It was all her. There wasn¡¯t a stalker. Oh, gosh, I cannot believe this. However, she did it because she was forced to, so you¡¯ll have to forgive her.


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t know what to do, Pathum.


    Pathum: Well, the first thing you should do is forgive her. We now know why she did what she did. She was forced to. The picture explains many things, but the question is¡­. Why did she take such pictures? I¡¯m not judging her, but it seems like he tricked her into sending those pictures to him, and then I don¡¯t know what happened next.


    Scarlet: Exactly. Why is she so foolish?


    Pathum: I guess, as Victor said, love makes us do terrible things, and her love for him made her blind.


    Scarlet: That makes sense. But what should I do now?


    Pathum: You can try to stop crying.


    Scarlet: But I can¡¯t.


    Pathum: Yes, sweetie, you can.


    Scarlet: But Pathum, I still can¡¯t believe what happened. Why did I wake up this morning? I can¡¯t handle everything. First, it was Abigail¡¯s betrayal, and then we figured out she had committed a sinful deed for the sake of love. This all makes me so uncomfortable about loving her. I¡¯m scared even to love you, Pathum.


    Pathum: I understand, sweetie.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sorry for saying this; I¡¯m scared of everyone except God.


    Pathum: I understand.


    Scarlet: No, you don¡¯t.


    Pathum: But I do, and I¡¯m still sorry.


    Scarlet: I can¡¯t even talk to you anymore, I¡¯m so sorry.


    Pathum: Umm... Still, I understand. It would help if you took a break.


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t need a break; I want to disappear entirely.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry.


    Scarlet: Is that all you have to say?


    Pathum: Yes, and I truly am sorry, Scarlet. Okay? I¡¯m so sad that he ruined your life and your sister got trapped in this horrible situation with him. But sweetie, I¡¯m not Victor, and you know that. However, I get it. It¡¯s challenging to love others when people use love as a weapon against you. But sweetie, don¡¯t assume everyone¡¯s like that. On the other hand, I¡¯m not blaming you; if you want to disappear, you can. But remember this: if you¡¯re going to leave me, a part of me will die. So, think about it before leaving.


    Scarlet: OMG Pathum. I -I¡¯ll talk to you later. I need space.


    Pathum: Okay. But promise me that you¡¯ll be safe.


    Scarlet: What?


    Pathum: Promise me that you¡¯ll be safe and that you won¡¯t do any harm to yourself.


    Scarlet: Of course, I won¡¯t. Why would you assume so?


    Pathum: Because I care.


    Scarlet: Sweetie I¡¯m sorry.


    Pathum: Can you promise me?


    Scarlet: Promise!


    Pathum: Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you, but until then, I¡¯ll focus on my studies.


    With that last message, she disappeared offline. I grabbed my biology notebook and turned to the recent page I was studying earlier. It was about tissues, and learning it was fun, primarily since I¡¯d written it in beautiful, neat handwriting. It¡¯s a delight for the eyes and a feast for the mind.


    I¡¯m not being poetic but being realistic. Because I excel better at tissues, I could revise everything, whether it¡¯s epithelial, muscle, or nervous. But connective tissues are a bit of a challenge. But anyway, they¡¯re not that difficult. It¡¯s just some points that need to be memorised. But the topic of the digestive system looks incredible.


    Soon, it was almost time for dinner, and my stomach didn¡¯t bother to question it. Yet, that¡¯s when my mom appeared with my plate.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to eat, Pathum.¡± She put my plate on the table before me and motioned for me to eat, but I shook my head in denial.


    ¡°I can¡¯t eat now.¡±


    She gave me an exasperated look, putting her hands on her hips.


    ¡°And why not?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, so please don¡¯t force me,¡± I whined, looking away, but she took the plate and mixed the food with her fingers.


    ¡°Open your mouth.¡± I hesitated at first but eventually gave up.


    Even if I wasn¡¯t that hungry, I ate the whole plate. I also talked about Scarlet while we ate; in other words, she fed me while talking about Abigail and what she had done.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t hungry before you started, but now do you want more?¡± Mom asked when the plate was empty. I shook my head.


    She nodded.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯m about to eat, and you can tell me more about this situation with Scarlet and her family.¡±


    My mom went into the kitchen, took my plate, and soon returned with her food. Her dark eyes were sparkling with curiosity as she looked down at me. She sat down, eager to listen to the rest of the story.


    ¡°So why did Abigail do it?¡±


    I sighed before looking my mom in the eyes.


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    ¡°Abigail fell in love with Victor, and he manipulated her using that love. That¡¯s why.¡±


    My mom tutted and shook her head in disapproval. I could tell she was displeased with Abigail''s handling of the situation. She then looked at me sternly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, Pathum, to be careful with people you love. They can turn against you at any second.¡±


    I nodded, absorbing her words, but I had to make sure she knew it wasn¡¯t Scarlet who was like that. She was too loyal and sweet a person. So, I had to defend her against my mom¡¯s accusations.


    ¡°Yes, but I want you to understand, Mom, that Scarlet isn¡¯t like that,¡± I said sternly. I had faith in what I said.


    Mom shot me a disappointed look.


    ¡°Don¡¯t sound so confident. As I¡¯ve told you, you don¡¯t know this girl in person. She could be completely different in real life as opposed to online. I¡¯m not trying to be mean; I¡¯m your mother, and I¡¯m trying to look out for your best interests.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a good girl, Mom. Trust me,¡± I smiled.


    She smiled back at me and patted me on the arm.


    ¡°I don¡¯t doubt it, son. So, I guess talking to her on the phone will help me get to know her.¡±


    My mom¡¯s kind words made a joyful smile come to my face. Maybe she¡¯ll come around to the idea of me being friends with Scarlet much easier if they can get to know each other better.


    ¡°Yes. Maybe one day we could,¡± I said.


    The thought of conversing with Scarlet was always a delight, and I hoped I could talk to her like a proper man¡ªI mean, boy¡ªthe next time we spoke. No shivering or looking away from the camera shyly; nothing but facing it like a proper boy. But all those things are a dream for me. But it isn¡¯t wrong to imagine a better future.


    I was brought out of my thoughts by my mom¡¯s words.


    ¡°Pathum, let¡¯s call her again sometime soon.¡±


    My eyebrow furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°Why soon? The last time we video-called, you weren¡¯t pleased to see her,¡± I pointed out, looking her in the eyes with my gaze narrowed at her.


    She shook off my worry with a smile and a gentle pat on my shoulder.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t in a good mood that day, but it had nothing to do with her; I don¡¯t hate her. I want to figure out why my son loves her so much.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing like that,¡± I denied.


    She grinned at me, reached out to play with my hair, and caress my cheek playfully. I was blushing so much that I tried to duck my head so she wouldn¡¯t see how bad it was.


    ¡°Oh, when are you going to accept the truth?¡±


    I instantly went into denial.


    ¡°What truth? The only truth about this situation is that we¡¯re best friends.¡±


    ¡°Never mind,¡± Mom said, waving it off dismissively. ¡°Are you going to sleep, or are you studying late?¡± She directed her gaze at me.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to study,¡± I said, taking out my biology book and turning the page to the current lesson.


    ¡°Okay,¡± my mom nodded before exiting the room. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡±


    She left but I then checked my phone to see if Scarlet had texted, but it seems she still hasn¡¯t. I exited the app and focused on my biology notes. It was easily digested as fast as the food I ate.


    In other words, I comprehended the points, but it was a bit too slow because my mind wasn¡®t in one frame. It was switching between Google Hangouts and my notes. The notes were before me, but Google Hangouts had things in front of my future.


    My mind drifted through a train of thoughts, which made me anxious because I was worried about her; once she said goodbye, she never returned.


    Near midnight, Mom returned and asked if I wanted some tea and biscuits. I nodded, and she brought the snack in less than ten minutes. While taking a break to drink the tea and eat the biscuits, I texted Scarlet to inquire whether she was okay.


    My phone beeped with a notification, and I opened the app. I saw that it was Scarlet, but not the Scarlet I was anticipating.


    Unknown: Congratulations!


    Pathum: Oh no, not you. Now, leave.


    Unknown: But I want to congratulate you both.


    Pathum: Oh¡­ Thanks.


    Unknown: Don¡¯t you want to know why I¡¯m congratulating you?


    Pathum: I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing good.


    Unknown: I want to congratulate you for solving our mystery. But you didn¡¯t win anything.


    Pathum: Oh, but we do, and I promise the police will take you down.


    Unknown: False beliefs! Do you think they¡¯ll help you? Do you think a bottle of wine and cash wouldn¡¯t bring them down?


    Pathum: Don¡¯t keep your hopes high. We¡¯ll learn the truth from Abigail, and she¡¯ll confess to the police. That proof will be more than enough to send you to jail.


    Unknown: Oh, that¡¯s not going to happen.


    Pathum: And why not?


    Unknown: I have something on her she wouldn¡¯t want the entire world to see, especially her parents.


    Pathum: Oh, go to hell.


    Unknown: With you?  I¡¯d love that.


    Pathum: You¡¯re so gay!


    Unknown: Aww, are you?


    Pathum: NO! You sick bastard!


    Unknown: Lol


    Oh, for freak¡¯s sake, not LOL; I hate that word, and this disgraceful son of a gun just replied with it. But I shouldn¡¯t express my frustration because he might use the slightest thing to his advantage. I exited the app even though he responded with many ¡®sweet boys.¡¯


    What a loser. I wonder why people want to drain someone else''s happiness.


    Soon, it was past midnight, and I put my books where they belonged. I then made the bed and checked my phone. Scarlet had still not responded, so I texted her goodnight and closed my eyes.


    It was when my phone started to ring with notifications. I checked it, and it was Scarlet¡ªthe real one. My bestie is not a damn loser. Oops, I¡¯m not supposed to say those words.


    Scarlet: Pathum, can you pray for us? Abigail needs God¡¯s help.


    Pathum: I would, but what should I do? How should I pray? Just keep my hands crossed and then address the problem.


    Scarlet: Yes. And say Amen once you have finished praying.


    Pathum: I¡¯ll start now. And ummm¡­ Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Yes?


    Pathum: I feel she told you everything, but something¡¯s wrong. You usually wouldn¡¯t ask for prayers unless the situation was severe.


    Scarlet: Abigail tried to harm herself. I¡¯m sure I wouldn''t commit such a crime, but I doubt my sister can do the same.


    Pathum: You mean she¡¯s thinking about suicide?


    Scarlet: Yes. I entered her room right when she had the knife to her throat, so I quickly pulled her back, took it away from her, and convinced her not to do such a sin.


    Pathum: Are you with her?


    Scarlet: No, I¡¯m in my room now. She told me she wouldn¡¯t do anything foolish, but she said she wanted to be free, which scared me. Maybe I should check on her again.


    Pathum: Yes, go stay with her. I¡¯ll start praying.


    Scarlet: Thank you.


    Pathum: You¡¯re welcome. Now, stay safe.


    Scarlet: Goodnight, sweetie; I¡¯ll see you soon.


    There¡¯s no need for her to thank me for praying. It¡¯s my responsibility to care for my family¡ª even if I haven¡¯t talked with Abigail. Still, she¡¯s Scarlet¡¯s sister, and that¡¯s the reason she matters to me. So, I got into a meditative lotus position, crossed my fingers, closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let go.


    God, I don¡¯t know whether You¡¯re authentic. Maybe You are, or perhaps You¡¯re not. But now I¡¯ve decided to believe You exist, so I want to save Abigail and her family from this torment. Please, God, I can¡¯t breathe when I know her family¡¯s suffering. So please save them. They¡¯re good people who deserve Your kindness.


    I opened my eyes and took a deep breath. That¡¯s when it occurred to me that I had not said Amen correctly during the prayer. Oh, for freak¡¯s sake, I messed up. I¡¯m such a mess.


    So I closed my eyes, prayed again, and ended it as it should be.


    But before I fell asleep, I heard a faint beep and opened the app to see it was Scarlet. So I opened it.


    Scarlet: Pathum.


    Pathum: Yes, sweetie? I was just about to fall asleep.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m so sorry; please forgive me¡ªI AAM soorry. I¡¯m shaking so much.


    Pathum: What¡¯s wrong?


    Scarlet: We¡¯re on our way to the hospital.


    Pathum: OMG, is Abigail, okay?


    Scarlet: No. She has lost a lot of blood, and I¡¯m not sure what to do. I¡¯m just holding bandages around her arm, trying to stop the bleeding while our mom¡¯s driving. She¡¯s unconscious.


    Pathum: God, I¡¯m sorry.


    Scarlet: Please, can you pray for her?


    Pathum: Of course, I will.


    Scarlet: We¡¯re near the hospital now, and I¡¯ll let you know how she¡¯s doing soon. However, please pray until then.


    Pathum: I will, sweetie.


    Throwing my sheets aside, I sat in the lotus position, and started to pray for her and them.

 Chapter 15A

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    As soon as we went into the Emergency Room, we told a nurse about Abigail¡¯s condition, and a stretcher was brought out for her. She was placed onto it, and I followed them as they carried her into the ward. Mom stayed out in the Waiting Room. The nurse advised us to calm down and let the doctor handle her care.


    In the meantime, I was trying to calm her down, but she was screaming, banging her head, and looking around for God¡¯s presence. We both had to wash our hands since we were covered in blood. The sight of blood subconsciously made me sick but for the sake of my sister I held myself strong.


    Also, Abigail needs a blood transfusion. I was the only one to have the same blood type as her, so I had to donate blood. Without prompting, I agreed to the donation. It wasn¡¯t painful because, in my heart, I was bonded with God, and I knew He would take care of me.


    Once we were done, I went out to the waiting room, waiting for Dad to come. Abigail was alive but now unconscious. Part of me felt like I was burning in Hell. One of the reasons she did this was because of me. The guilt poured out like lava into my heart.


    If I hadn¡¯t been careless, this wouldn¡¯t have happened. She¡¯s suffering because of me. And I hate myself for it. There¡¯s no way I would forgive myself if she died.


    Our parents and I stayed in the waiting room for a few more hours until they told us that Abigail was awake. Even though they were hesitant at first, they eventually let us see her.


    When Mom and I went into the small hospital room, she was lying there with her head on the pillow and an IV attached to her arm. Her injured hand was covered in bandages and tape. When our eyes met, she burst into tears. Slowly, we embraced in a light hug. Mom kissed her forehead, and Dad watched over us.


    Dad was stunned and kept staring at Abigail, shaking his head and pacing. He was speechless and emotionless. But he¡¯s usually like this.


    I don¡¯t know whether every dad acts this way, but his not showing emotions isn¡¯t healthy. She deserves a warm hug after dealing with something like this. That would speed up the healing process.


    ¡°Thank God you¡¯re alive, Abigail,¡± Mom said, caressing her hair.


    Abigail closed her eyes in response; she wasn¡¯t strong enough to speak.


    However, my Dad ignored that as he paced, his gaze focused intently and unflinchingly on Mom and Abigail.


    ¡°Why Abigail? Just tell me, why did you do this?¡± he asked.


    For some reason, I wasn¡¯t on his radar. I don¡¯t know whether it was frustration or a matter of priority. But whatever it was, he wasn¡¯t pleased with us.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this once we get home; Abigail needs a break,¡± Mom said.


    Dad scoffed, attracting the attention of patients and doctors outside the room.


    ¡°A break? Is that what she needs? Well, she almost took a permanent one!¡± he yelled.


    Mom put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a look. This wasn¡¯t the time or place for such a lecture.


    ¡°Calm down.¡±


    Dad snorted and turned to Mom, glaring at her fiercely. I was alarmed, but I didn¡¯t say anything. I knew better than to get involved in my parents¡¯ arguments.


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    ¡°You were supposed to care for the girls and inquire about their problems.¡±


    Mom glared back at him for his accusing tone and crossed her arms, her green eyes lighting up in fury. When she spoke, her voice was dripping with rage.


    ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re putting this on me?¡±


    Dad¡¯s blue eyes were full of challenge.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll stay home and take care of the girls while you handle my job. How does that sound?¡± Dad snapped.


    The way he spoke to my mom made me glare at him, trying to catch his gaze, but he just didn¡¯t look at me. Maybe he¡¯s stressed.


    Mom waved off his tone with her hand. She didn¡¯t have any sympathy in her eyes when she spoke her following words.


    ¡°Abigail and Scarlet are almost adults, so I can¡¯t focus on them all day. I have a life and in case you¡¯ve forgotten, your favourite daughter is here too. Not to mention, I must take care of my mom and the household chores. Don¡¯t blame me for everything.¡± she looked at me , so i was the favourite daughter of dad . how interesting.


    Our parents¡¯ argument escalated further, but I tuned them out. Instead, I focused on Abigail, whose gaze was directed at my parents¡¯ fuming mouths. With each word, she looked like she wanted to cry.


    Did she regret being alive? I wondered.


    She ignored me while I held onto her hand and didn¡¯t speak. In fact, she fell asleep despite the volume of our parents¡¯ angry shouts. The doctors, having heard our parents¡¯ obnoxious argument, threw us out because they were causing too much noise and irritating the other patients.


    We stayed in the waiting room until evening but had to leave since visiting hours were over. But before we did, the doctor said Abigail had to stay at the hospital for a few days due to her weak condition.


    Once we got home from the hospital, I took a shower with Mazie. But I was thinking about the thing with Victor. I knew I had to make a decision tonight. I always trusted Pathum and his thoughts on the subject; I never doubted it and hated myself for doing so.


    He left a message as soon as I messaged him.


    Pathum: Scarlet, do it.


    Scarlet: Are you sure?


    Pathum: Yes. I¡¯m sure. For death or glory, sweetie. I¡¯m here.


    Scarlet: Gotcha.


    So, I gathered all the pictures and shared a detailed message about today¡¯s events. I waited but didn¡¯t get Victor¡¯s reply until just before midnight. When I did, I texted Pathum.


    Scarlet: I got a reply from Victor.


    Pathum: Good. Now talk to him.


    I summoned all my strength and entered the chat reluctantly. I was dreading this so much. But the first thing I saw was an impatient message from Victor.


    Unknown: Why isn¡¯t Abigail answering the phone?


    Scarlet: I have already answered all your questions. So, what more do you want, Victor? Aren¡¯t you tired of playing this game?


    Unknown: Give me what I want, and I¡¯ll delete everything I have of her.


    Scarlet: And what is it that you want?


    Unknown: YOU.


    Scarlet: Oh¡­. That¡¯s it?


    Unknown: No. You could do me one more favour.


    Scarlet: What is it?


    Unknown: I want an accurate picture of you in exchange for Abigail¡¯s miserable life.


    Scarlet: Okay. But how can I trust you?


    Unknown: You know me, Scarlet. I¡¯m a man of my word.


    Scarlet: Fine. I¡¯ll think about it.


    Unknown: thats my sweet girl. I would give you the world if you would would keep that attitude.


    Scarlet: But what if my family and I report this to the police? Will they take you down?


    Unknown: It¡¯ll only fail miserably.


    Scarlet: How?


    Unknown: I doubt the police would work against me, but the most important fact is that you can¡¯t reveal the dirty truth about Abigail.


    Scarlet: And why not?


    Unknown: If your mama finds out, all hell will break loose.


    Scarlet: Oh, you¡¯re a vile mistake of God.


    Unknown: Sweet girl, God doesn¡¯t make mistakes.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t teach me about that. I know better.


    Unknown: Okay. So sweet girl, do me the favour of saving your sister, and then let¡¯s enjoy our life together.

 Chapter 15B

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    Pathum: Scarlet, are you out of your mind?


    Scarlet: But how else are we going to help Abigail?


    Pathum: You¡¯re walking into a trap.


    Scarlet: I know that, but how can we help her? She¡¯s in that hospital bed because of me. I can¡¯t stand that.


    Pathum: It¡¯s not your fault, sweetie.


    Scarlet: Yes, it is, Pathum.


    Pathum: Why do you say that?


    Scarlet: She wouldn¡¯t be in this state if it weren''t for me.


    Pathum: That¡¯s a load of crap.


    Scarlet: You don¡¯t know the story she shared with me before her accident.


    Pathum: Now¡¯s the time to share it with me.


    Scarlet: Ok. So, Victor forced Abigail to get pictures of me saying it was comparison and that he needed proof that her body was the best


    Pathum: That son of a bit¨C


    Scarlet: i know Pathum, its horrible.


    Pathum: gosh I am so sorry. Keep continuing.


    Scarlet: Anyway, as I was saying, he tricked her into giving him pictures and commented that she had a better body than me. He then asked for some pictures of mine, but she refused. So, he started sending us photos of her, asking about my life, and forcing her to stalk me.


    Pathum: Everything makes sense now. She didn¡¯t betray you; she was trying to protect you.


    Scarlet: Exactly. And knowing that she¡¯s on the verge of death makes me hurt so much.


    Pathum: Don¡¯t blame yourself. It was the fault of her heart.


    Scarlet: But Pathum¡­


    Pathum: Yes, sweetie?


    Scarlet: I want to cry.


    Pathum: Sweetie, it¡¯s okay to cry. Just let it out.


    Scarlet: But I don¡¯t know if I can. I¡¯m so tired. Can I go to sleep?


    Pathum: Sweetie, I hope slumber takes you soon.


    Scarlet: Ok, goodnight. I¡¯m sorry for leaving so early.


    Pathum: Shush. It would help if you had sleep and I need to study some more. But soon, Abigail will be healed.


    A few minutes later, I fell asleep and slept until I was interrupted by my mom. She shook me vigorously, saying that I had overslept and complained about my device being the cause of the trouble.


    My heart ached at her harsh words against Pathum. I won¡¯t let her hurt him, so I fought back, which only brought forth a grumpy mama.


    ¡°Abigail¡¯s hurt, and here you are, getting mad at me,¡± she commented while I was getting ready.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m getting ready. Just give me a minute,¡± I protested.


    Thankfully, we were soon on our way to the hospital, but it was just my mom and I. My dad stayed home because he had work to do. I don¡¯t know whether it was out of frustration or selfishness. But still, I guess I¡¯m not giving my dad the benefit of the doubt. Just because he doesn¡¯t show it doesn¡¯t mean he doesn¡¯t love us.


    A while later, we were at the hospital and in Abigail¡¯s room. She looked better and was probably in the mood to talk.


    ¡°How are you doing, dear?¡± Mom asked, sitting beside her, eagerly awaiting her answer.


    Abigail¡¯s complexion was still somewhat pale from the blood loss, but it was slowly getting better. She was still weak, though. She could barely lift her head. And when she replied to Mom, her voice was quiet.


    ¡°I¡¯m good.¡±


    Mom smiled, and she smiled back, but when our eyes met, she sighed. Mom left to talk to the doctor privately about Abigail and her mental health. Once Mom¡¯s figure disappeared, Abigail took a deep breath and let it go, with her poker face fading away.


    I saw the look on her face and narrowed my eyes to her in suspicion.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    She nodded, but I didn¡¯t believe her. However, I didn¡¯t call her out on it. Instead, we stayed silent until she brought up the topic I dreaded.


    ¡°So, you talked to Victor. What did he say?¡±


    I shook my head, wanting to avoid the topic for as long as possible. Besides, Abigail didn¡¯t need to know the details¡ªnot right now. She needed to focus on recovering from her injury and her mental health.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll figure out to get him out of your life.¡±


    ¡°But Scarlet-¡±


    I glanced at her and saw tears cascading down her cheek.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you did something stupid.¡± She extended her hand out to touch my cheek. I stood up and looked away, scanning the vicinity to see if our mom was nearby.


    When I didn¡¯t see her, I started talking in a low voice.


    ¡°Victor is only after me. He''ll leave you alone if I give him what he wants.¡±


    She shook her head and raised her hand at me.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t make the same mistake I did.¡± Her tone was quiet yet pleading.


    I gave her a look of contempt, poking my finger at her in disapproval.


    ¡°You did that to prove your love for him while I do the opposite. There¡¯s a big difference,¡± I said.


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    That¡¯s when I realised what I said wasn¡¯t pleasant.


    She froze, covered her face, and began to cry. The memories were starting to haunt her. The fact I just said that I¡¯m what he¡¯s after surely must¡¯ve hurt more. Even though my intentions weren¡¯t to hurt her, they did just that.


    Taking a step forward, I touched her face gently, but she shrugged me away.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Abigail. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you.¡±


    She shook her head, her tears making her eyes blurry.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. He only offered me his fake love to mask his true love for you. It was always you¡ªthe better one. I was an option he had when he was bored. You were the divine goddess while I was the slut,¡± she said, looking away from me and sobbing.


    I couldn¡¯t focus my gaze on her after hearing those words. I wanted to puke.


    What the hell, she calls me a divine goddess? Ew.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about yourself like that,¡± I replied, failing to find the right words to console her.


    ¡°But I just told you the truth,¡± she wept.


    I turned back to her before clearing my throat.


    We both sighed and focused our gazes at the door. Mom was still nowhere in sight, so we continued our conversation.


    ¡°He promised me he¡¯d leave you alone if I gave him what he wanted.¡±


    Abigail raised her eyebrows in suspicion.


    ¡°And you believe that?¡±


    ¡°I know he¡¯s one of the worst people, but he isn¡¯t a liar,¡± I said, crossing my arms.


    The scoff Abigail gave me was mocking.


    ¡°Then you¡¯ll end up like me once you fulfill his desires.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that. I only wanted to help you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a sacrifice, Scarlet, so get it out of your mind.¡± She took a deep breath, laid her head back on the pillow, and closed her eyes.


    I looked up at the ceiling, my thoughts going a million miles a minute. I wanted to figure out how to get us both out of this mess.


    ¡°How are we going to fix this?¡± I eventually asked.


    My sister shrugged her shoulders without opening her eyes. Her voice was sad and tired when she answered me like she wanted to cry.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I just want to die. Why am I still alive? I don¡¯t understand. Why is God doing this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a test  by god. So let¡¯s overcome it and turn it into a blessing in our life,¡± I said optimistically, trying to encourage her.


    ¡°A test?¡± she laughed, shaking her head.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I believe it is,¡± I nodded before a sudden thought came to me. ¡°Now, I want to talk to you about something.¡±


    Abigail¡¯s eyes opened, and she sat up with my help before looking at me curiously.


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°If we told the police the details of your conversation and everything that happened, they might listen to us and arrest him. That way, we can be free¡ªor you can be free from him,¡± I said, looking sideways.


    Abigail didn¡¯t look too convinced. In fact, she frowned and shook her head at me, and it didn¡¯t look like she approved of my plan.


    ¡°The police won¡¯t work against him, but even if they do, what if he presses the share button and forwards the pictures to Mom? Scarlet, I¡¯m better off dead than having to confess my sins to Mom,¡± she sobbed.


    Getting closer to her, I let my hug give her some warmth. Hoping that it would ease her pain.


    ¡°My love beguiled me into thinking he was after me, but I was only a pawn in his game,¡± she continued crying, and I tightened my arms around her, trying my best not to shed tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Abigail. There are two options; either I give him what he wants, or we give the police what they want. So, please choose one. He won¡¯t give us a break.¡±


    ¡°But how can we trust the police?¡±


    ¡°I guess the tall officer could be trusted. His name was Michael, Mom has his number so I could text him about this situation,¡± I said convincingly.


    She looked at me for a second before nodding hesitantly.


    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not 100% confident, but I still hope it¡¯ll work.¡±


    ¡°But what if it doesn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll give Victor what he wants,¡± I said.


    The next thing I knew, Abigail was slapping me across the face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. It¡¯s my fault I got into this mess, and I don¡¯t want you to suffer.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to see you in this weak state,¡± I protested.


    Instead of agreeing with me, she only shook her head angrily.


    ¡°No. Don¡¯t take my burdens with you. Let me suffer alone and pretend that I was an evil sister. I treated you terribly by always taking Mom¡¯s side whenever you got in trouble and tried my best to be her favourite child.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the favourite?¡± That thought made me laugh in amusement, and I shook my head.


    ¡°Yes.¡± She looked away.


    I gave her the most flabbergasted expression ever.


    ¡°Excuse me, but I thought you were the favourite child?¡± I asked, making her body numb and her speech stop.


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she said, glaring at me.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    Abigail didn¡¯t look like she wanted to answer the question, she looked uncomfortable to be honest. But I was stubborn and unwilling to let this go. She took one look at me before sighing loudly.


    ¡°Mom constantly tells me to take care of you. Whenever we talk, she¡¯d inquire about your well-being. But she wouldn¡¯t ask me how I was doing. She never expressed her feelings in front of you, but things were tough behind the scenes. I had to be the strong, big sister while you got all the attention of both parents. That sucks, you know. And I know Dad loves me, but when was the last time he expressed it? Oh, I sometimes honestly hate our parents. While they raised us right, they disappointed us.¡± she delivered her speech while tears cascaded down her cheeks.


    She ensured she wiped them before anyone could see them, especially Mom.


    Thinking about it, I nodded. It made sense why Abigail behaved the way she did. She¡¯s been jealous of me since birth and wanted to be our parents¡¯ favourite child. I thought it was me who was trying to reach that status, but it seemed we were running the race, looking with both our eyes¡ªexcept our views were different.


    She snapped me out of my thoughts by snapping her fingers in my face.


    ¡°Scarlet, give me my phone. I was bored all day without it, and I want to see what notifications I have.¡±


    I furrowed my brow in confusion and shook my head.


    ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t have it.¡±


    She snickered at me and shook her head at my obliviousness before pointing to the trouser pocket, where she could see the familiar screen of her phone peeking out.


    ¡°I can see it in your pants pocket.¡±


    Sheepishly, I looked down, and we laughed for a few moments before I handed her the device.


    While she logged into her phone, I left the room, trying to find Mom. I looked everywhere, but I couldn¡¯t see her. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s taking her so long. Well, she¡¯ll return when it¡¯s time for her to come.


    Shaking my head, I went back into Abigail¡¯s room and sat in the chair beside her bed. She must¡¯ve heard me because she suddenly looked up from her phone at me.


    ¡°Victor¡¯s saying he won¡¯t let me go, and he doesn¡¯t care if I¡¯m dead. How can he be so rude?¡± she asked, fuming. Tears started cascading down her cheeks while she looked at something on her device.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him.¡±


    She tossed her phone down on the bed before turning to look at me. Her green eyes were dull and sad. When she spoke, her voice was quiet yet vulnerable.


    ¡°I loved him from the bottom of my heart. But how could he deceive me like this, Scarlet?¡±


    ¡®¡¯He¡¯s a monster.¡±


    ¡°I know that now, and I want to be free of him. Please help me, Scarlet!¡± she cried, her voice full of desperation and despair.


    I could not bear it, so I did the only thing I could do. I offered her my warmth through a hug.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for helping him, for lying to you, and for every other wrong I did. Will you forgive me?¡± she asked.


    I knew I wouldn¡¯t even have to think about it. I¡¯d forgive her within a heartbeat.


    I opened my mouth to say it to her, but I suddenly stopped when our mom came in, interrupting me.


    She smiled as she clasped her hands in front of her and looked at the two of us. It looked like she had some good news to share. That would be great, considering all we¡¯ve been dealing with is bad news. We could use a break from it.


    ¡°Hey, guys, the doctors said we can leave this evening,¡± she said before turning to me. ¡°And Scarlet, call your dad and tell him not to come home today. I want to make sure your sister¡¯s settled in.¡±


    I nodded, pulling my phone out of my other pocket, and dialed Dad¡¯s number. It didn¡¯t even ring once before he answered. I told him we were coming home, but he wasn¡¯t allowed to. I then hung up and was about to leave the room when Mom stopped me. Judging by the raised eyebrow, she was giving me. She looked like she had heard the tail end of our conversation.


    ¡°So scarlet, will you forgive Abigail for whatever she did?¡± she asked.


    Abigail and I glanced at each other.


    ¡°What do you mean by that, Mom?¡±


    ¡°I believe you heard me, Scarlet,¡± she said, directing her attention towards Abigail.


    But before I could respond, Abigail broke into sobs while I stood there, not knowing what to say.

 Chapter 16

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    Even though it had been three days since Abigail came home from the hospital, Scarlet was still worried. So, I knew I had to do something to shift her mind onto another topic, or she¡¯d suffocate from too much stress. However, her feelings towards her sister are understandable. She must do everything possible to keep her out of harm¡¯s way. But stressing too much about that is very unhealthy. I¡¯m not going to stand here and let her be tortured. What would be the point of my existence if I can''t help her? So I¡¯ going to figure something out.


    ¡°How¡¯s her sister doing now?¡± Mom asked, interrupting my sea of thoughts. I noticed she brought me my evening cup of tea and took it from her with a grateful nod.


    ¡°She¡¯s doing better now,¡± I replied.


    My mom¡¯s features shifted into a genuine smile, but I wasn¡¯t smiling. I was too busy thinking about how much I loathe Victor for taking Scarlet¡¯s bright, friendly smile from her. She would¡¯ve had the same smile listening to my words but unfortunately her mind wasn¡¯t in the right place.


    ¡°Good. And how¡¯s Abigail and your girl doing?¡± Mom asked, her smile slowly fading her face when she noticed the crestfallen look on my own.


    My eyebrow furrowed in confusion at her words.


    Mom, seriously? My girl?


    I felt anger, gosh I¡¯m not going to let my anger take control of my mouth. It¡¯ll only be a disaster. We don''t need more disasters because the ones we have already are exhausting. Also I didn''t want to be rude, so I smiled back reluctantly before sighing and shaking my head, a look of worry quickly crossing my features.


    ¡°Abigail¡¯s fine, but Scarlet¡¯s not doing so well.¡±


    That¡¯s true; she isn¡¯t okay, so why would I lie to my mom? If I would lie to her it¡¯s because I don''t want her to be worried about it. I can''t just let people whom I love suffer.


    Mom looked at me, concern now etched across her face, and sat on the bed beside me while taking a sip from her teacup.


    ¡°Oh no. Why isn¡¯t she still doing so well?¡±


    I went on to explain.


    ¡°Scarlet¡¯s still worried about Abigail¡¯s well-being and isn¡¯t caring for herself.¡±


    My mom gave me a look of sympathy, touching my arm while biting her lip. I can tell that thinking about what that monster had done to Scarlet¡¯s family disgusted her. I was proven right by her words moments later.


    ¡°Ugh, it sickens me so much that all this torment to their family was caused by a man who¡¯s unable to control his dick,¡± she said loud enough for Grandma, who¡¯s having hearing issues, would¡¯ve heard her.


    I gaped at her, so shocked that I almost spilled my tea and averted my gaze. It embarrassed me to look at her after she had mentioned the d-word. For God¡¯s sake, I was so uncomfortable. However, on the outside, I appeared to have a poker face, which caused my mom to raise an eyebrow in confusion.


    ¡°Are yours alright?¡± Mom asked.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, clearly, not understanding what she meant or because I didn¡¯t want it to be what I thought it was.


    She looked towards the front of my pants before repeating the question. This made my jaw drop open in surprise. I had not been expecting that from her. So I instinctively turned my body away from her, blushing from embarrassment.


    It was a few seconds before I spoke again, and when I did, it was with an annoyed tone.


    ¡°Mine¡¯s alright. But why the crap did you ask me that, Mom?!¡±


    She snickered for a few moments before smirking at me mischievously.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve said a simple yes or no. Don¡¯t panic, boy,¡± she said laughing, her words barely audible to my ears.


    ¡°Okay!¡± I exclaimed, finishing my tea, hoping she¡¯d leave soon. Not that I loathe her presence but because I couldn''t handle the embarrassment coming from the deepest parts of my heart.


    ¡°Oh, come on, it was supposed to be funny.¡± Mom tapped my cheek before gesturing towards the cup. ¡°Now, give me the cup.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, I¡¯ll wash it myself,¡± I insisted, but before I could do anything, she grabbed the cup from me, caressed my hair, and then left the room.


    Was I rude to her? Heck she only wanted to lift my mood by stating a joke while I made a mess out of it.


    What a horrible loser I am. I thought shaking my head.


    Five minutes later, Scarlet woke up, and instead of me doing my morning prayers, I told her what had happened with my mom. For some odd reason, she started laughing.


    Scarlet: Your mom really said that to you?! Haha.


    Pathum: How many times am I going to have to tell you? Yes, Scarlet, she did ask me that, much to my humiliation. I could barely look her in the eye afterwards.


    Scarlet: OMG! Hahaha, can you believe I''m dying of laughter for the first time in a long time?


    She found it funny? How interesting. Does that mean umm.. No stop it right there.


    Pathum: Really? Gosh. I just had a thought, but I won¡¯t say it.


    Scarlet: What is it?


    No, I won¡¯t say it.


    Pathum: You can¡¯t convince me to tell you.


    Scarlet: Oh, come on. Tell me!


    Will it be okay if I told her?


    Pathum: Fine. But can you promise you won¡¯t judge me or get mad at me?


    Scarlet: Yes, I promise.


    Pathum: Are you sure?


    Gosh is she being serious now?


    Scarlet: A hundred percent, sir!


    Pathum: The silly thought was based on your and my mom¡¯s behavior. Again, it¡¯s just a thought. Don¡¯t overthink it.


    Scarlet: All ears on you.


    Pathum: Girls get excited when they talk about ¡®it,¡¯ don¡¯t they?


    Scarlet: What¡¯s this ¡®it¡¯ you¡¯re referring to?


    Pathum: The thing Victor has no control over.


    Scarlet: OMG Pathum! You did not just say that.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry, Scarlet.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Scarlet: Oh, what am I going to do with you? You¡¯re such a brat.


    Pathum: Does that mean the answer is yes? OMG, never mind, let''s forget it.


    Scarlet: Brat. Of course, it¡¯s a yes, but let''s change the topic because talking about it doesn''t end well.


    Pathum: Holy God, did you just say yes?


    Scarlet: That was a typo.


    Pathum: Sure, that was a typo.


    Scarlet: Oh, whatever! * rolls my eyes*


    Pathum: OMG GIRLS ARE ¡­..


    Scarlet: Girls are what?


    Pathum: UMM¡­ cute.


    I don¡¯t know what I was going to say anyway. Will she jump into some conclusions and will I lose her? Of course not stupid. Just shush.


    Scarlet: That''s far from the truth.


    Pathum: So you think girls aren''t cute?


    Scarlet: That wasn''t what I meant. Gosh whatever!


    Pathum: Let¡¯s forget it.


    My humour is so horrible; I can¡¯t make anyone laugh.


    Scarlet : Yeah! Let¡¯s move on.


    Pathum : Okay! So, my dear girl, how are you feeling?


    Scarlet: I¡¯m feeling good¡ªall thanks to my boy.


    Pathum: Aww, I¡¯m your boy?


    Scarlet: Yes! Hehehe.


    Pathum: That¡¯s so sweet. I need a smiling Scarlet right now.


    Scarlet: I will, but only if you return the favour.


    Before she could blink, I shared the pictures I had taken the evening after my bath. I thought it looked cute enough, and my smile wasn''t that bad, as they say my smile brightens the picture. And I thought she might like it, so I sent it to her. I wasn''t confident in my smile but was confident she would have an encouraging comment for it which would make my night.


    Pathum: Done!


    Not long after, she sent me her reaction.


    Scarlet: OMG, these are so cute.


    I told you Pathum, she always appreciates you.


    Pathum: Aww, thank you, miss. My pleasure.


    Scarlet: How is it that my bestie¡¯s so cute? How am I so lucky? I thought I was an unfortunate thing that happened to my mom and dad.


    Pathum: Awww, thank you. Dreams do come true. So, keep dreaming! And shut your god dang mouth you aren¡¯t a curse to anyone. You¡¯re a blessing for everyone around you. Get that into your brain and enclose it in the deepest layers.


    Scarlet: Aww you defended me. How adorable.


    Pathum: I wasn''t being adorable, I was only being truthful.


    Scarlet: Never in my wildest dreams did I think I¡¯d have someone like you. God is marvellous. Thank God for putting you in my life.


    Pathum: Amen!


    I meant the Amen I uttered because I know the simplest gesture would make her happy. So why not act on it and make her happy.


    Scarlet: AWW!


    Pathum: Anyway, how¡¯s Abigail doing?


    Scarlet: She¡¯s getting better physically but weaker mentally because, of course, Victor¡¯s still threatening her. But I got a call from Michael. He told me they¡¯re thoroughly investigating some other complaints against Victor. So, they hope to arrest him eventually.


    Pathum: Good. I pray they¡¯ll get him soon.


    Scarlet: Oh, me too!


    Pathum: I¡¯m so sorry, Scarlet, that you and your family must endure this mess. He¡¯s a creep.


    Scarlet: I know. Me too. And did you know our mom hasn¡¯t talked to Abigail since we arrived home?


    Pathum: No. Are you sure that she didn¡¯t hear about the pictures?


    Scarlet: I can¡¯t reassure you that she didn¡¯t, but by the looks of it, she hasn¡¯t heard anything about them.


    Pathum: That¡¯s good. Or else she¡¯d be in for a big struggle.


    Scarlet: That¡¯s true. Anyway, could you give me a minute? I¡¯m getting another call from Officer Michael.


    Pathum: Yes. Sure. Go ahead and answer it.


    While she disappeared to talk to Michael, I focused my attention on my Physics notes. Even though I was getting nowhere, even if I stared at the note or illustrated it on a rough sheet, I did just that, clinging to little hope.


    Frustrated by my inability to answer the question, I threw the book away and walked outside to enjoy nature. I smelled some lilies in the backyard. They had a soft, powdery smell with woodsy undertones. After a few minutes of walking here and there, she texted me.


    Scarlet: Pathum.


    Pathum: Yes, sweetie? Do you have any news?


    Scarlet: I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?


    Pathum: The bad news. So go ahead and tell me.


    Scarlet: The bad news is that Victor won¡¯t stay in custody for long, but the good news is that the police have captured him.


    Pathum: I¡¯m glad they had the guts to catch him. Kudos to those officers. But what do you mean by ¡®he won''t remain there¡¯?


    Scarlet: You know he¡¯s friendly with some of the officers, so he might convince them to let him out. And even though he was caught, he still threatened to reveal everything to our mom.


    Pathum: WHAT?! No! He can¡¯t do that!


    Scarlet: Well, unfortunately, he can.


    Pathum: How¡¯s that possible?


    Scarlet: His friend, Freddy, says he needs to inform the person who made the complaint. Since it was my mom, as the law states, she ought to know about the progress of the case.


    Pathum: Dang this, Victor!


    Scarlet: Yes, I know. And he also said he¡¯d make a call fifteen minutes later to keep or let him go. But we must decide soon; the clock is ticking.


    Pathum: This is getting out of hand. Have you talked to Abigail yet?


    Scarlet: No, she''s still asleep, but I¡¯ll have to wake her up to deliver the terrible news. Please give us a few moments.


    Pathum: Okay.


    With that last message, she went offline. But within a few minutes, she reappeared, so I quickly sent her a message to see what happened.


    Pathum: Did you two decide?


    Scarlet: Umm, no. She¡¯s crying, so I don''t know what to do. The police warned us we were out of time, so we needed to call them about this.


    Pathum: Gosh, so what are you going to do?


    Scarlet: Wait until Abigail decides.


    Pathum: Okay, sweetie.


    Scarlet and I waited for a few minutes in silence. While I was waiting, I studied my physics notes. But, of course, my mind was elsewhere. I kept returning and thinking about this mess with Scarlet, Abigail, Victor, and the police.


    Then, she sent me another message, making me look up from my notes. I read it silently to myself before starting to message her again.


    Scarlet: She just called them.


    Pathum: Oh, okay.


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t get it. Why are people so disturbing, Pathum? Why can¡¯t they be like you?


    Pathum: I don¡¯t know how to answer that, but I¡¯m still sorry about all this, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: How could God allow Victor to escape his sins? It¡¯s not fair.


    Pathum: Have some faith, sweetie. God will help you. He has a reason for everything He does.


    Scarlet: Sometimes I doubt Him, and I¡¯m scared I¡¯m drifting away from His presence.


    Pathum: I don''t know much about Christianity but believe God has a plan. It seems like the devil is in control right now, but don''t lose faith. I¡¯m sure something good will happen at the end of this dark tunnel. You¡¯ll see.


    Scarlet: How do you have so much faith in God when you aren¡¯t even a Christian? It¡¯s mesmerizing.


    Pathum: I don''t have faith in God, sweetie; I have faith in you. I believe in my bestie, I do wish I could have some faith in God just like you but unfortunately it doesn¡¯t work that way but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t have faith in someone who has faith in God. And I believe that no matter how challenging the situation looks from the outside, someone like you deserves better. An angel like you deserves justice, so I believe you¡¯ll get the help you deserve at the right time and place.


    I hope my words make a difference in her heart. I wanted to make an impact and make her feel like she¡¯s safe and secure. I hope my words heal her wounded heart, I hope I lend a hand to her faith towards God. I hope God sees her prayers and answers them.


    Scarlet: Thank you so much, sweetie. Sometimes, I rely on you more than I rely on God. But I¡¯m so grateful to have you in my life. I thank God for putting you in my life.


    Pathum: You have no idea how much those words means to me. It means the world sweetie. Anyway it¡¯s good, be grateful. It¡¯s good to be grateful.


    A few seconds later, Scarlet sent a very startling message.


    Scarlet: Oh God.


    Pathum: Sweetie? What¡¯s wrong?


    Scarlet: My mom just... oh, my God!


    Pathum: What happened? Please explain further.


    Scarlet: I think she¡¯s bleeding. Give me a moment, and I¡¯ll be right back.


    Pathum: Wait a minute. Scarlet! Who¡¯s bleeding? Are you there? Sweetie?!


    It wasn¡¯t long before she replied. But it still didn¡¯t explain what happened.


    Scarlet: Never mind, it stopped.


    Pathum: What stopped?


    Scarlet: The bleeding.


    Oh god whose bleeding?


    Pathum: Who was bleeding?


    Scarlet: Abigail.


    Holy hell, I hope she¡¯s okay.


    Pathum: Oh God! Did she try to harm herself again?


    Oh, please God I hope I¡¯m wrong.


    Scarlet: Uhhhh¡­. no¡­. My mom slapped her across the face.


    Pathum: Oh, my God! Why did she do that?!


    Scarlet: Because Abigail finally sat down and confessed to Mom that it was her that had sent all those dirty pictures to Victor.

 Chapter 17

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    Memories flashed before my eyes: I could still remember the horrible moment the words, ¡°I was the one who sent pictures to Victor,¡± came out of Abigail¡¯s mouth, and the look of horror melting into rage on my mom¡¯s face before she did the unthinkable. She began hitting Abigail all over her body, each slap more forceful than the last. I could only stand there and watch as Abigail stayed silent, taking every hit, and drops of crimson-red blood started to stain her cheeks.


    She was helpless against Mom¡¯s fury, but it seemed she had known Mom would get like this. So, she made sure to do everything she could to ensure that Mom would never find out about the photos she took of herself. But now that she knows¡­. Oh my gosh.


    God bless her.


    Abigail continued to maintain her serene composure despite the vile insults now spewing from Mom¡¯s mouth. Mom seemed agitated to the core, starkly contrasting Abigail¡¯s calm visage. Well, at least she was showing us that she was externally calm, but internally, I¡¯m sure her emotions were swirling around like a vicious hurricane.


    Mom, seeing that Abigail wasn¡¯t responding, suddenly stopped before growling and slapping Abigail across the face as hard as she could. The force of the abrupt blow threw her backward into some glass vases, which shattered and cut into her already injured skin. I turned and gaped at Mom in shock, my hands covering my mouth. I was speechless, unable to process the fact that our mom had done that.


    But Abigail rose to her feet slowly, an impassive look on her face. I sighed in relief. It seemed like she wasn¡¯t as weak as I thought.


    Even under Mom¡¯s rage, she was cool and collected, but if I had been in her shoes, I would¡¯ve been a nervous, stammering wreck by now. I watched Mom¡¯s facial expressions and movements and listened to her words. From my point of view, they were too much to handle, but my sister surprised me with how calmly she was acting.


    Abigail¡¯s a monster that can withstand any force of nature directed upon her.


    Isn¡¯t she something to admire?


    Oh, forgive me, Lord, I¡¯m not mocking her. I¡¯m just impressed by her courage.


    However, my sudden train of thought was interrupted by my mom¡¯s furious voice yelling.


    ¡°I cannot believe this, Abigail. At first, I thought it was your sister sending those horrible pictures to Victor, but as it turns out¡­. it was you all along! All this time, I blindly trusted you and you betrayed me. I thought I had raised you correctly!¡± Mom¡¯s face was red with rage as she shook her hands vigorously, trying to resist the urge to strangle Abigail with her bare hands.


    All Abigail could do was hang her head in shame while crying silent tears. As I watched her, I noticed that she was becoming more ashen by the minute. I bit my lip. I knew I had to intervene in the conversation somehow, otherwise things would get even uglier.


    ¡°Mom, you need to calm down; it¡¯s unhealthy to get angry like this,¡± I said, trying to ease the situation.


    But my words only fell on deaf ears. In other words, she didn¡¯t give a dang about what I said. Neither was she aware of her own. Mom was freaking out; she couldn¡¯t absorb everything; it seemed it was all too much to handle. It seems both of us were doing an awful job at restoring peace.


    While Mom was cursing at herself and Abigail, I swiftly exited the house to look for Dad. I found him in the garage, working under his car to change the oil. He heard me and slid out from under the car. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw the tears in my eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked.


    I took a deep breath before launching into the explanation.


    ¡°Abigail told Mom that she was the one that sent Victor the pictures, and she went ballistic. She slapped and hit Abigail so much that she started bleeding, and then she slapped her so hard that she fell into several vases. It¡¯s such a mess, Dad. I need you to help me calm them down.¡±


    Then, after listening to what I said, he walked inside. I looked up at the sky, deep in thought for several moments.


    God forgive me, but I think Dad took the news much better than Mom did. And during everything, is this a role You play or is it their own? Do You interfere with the minds of everyone?


    After that, I followed Dad inside and as we returned to the living room, their voices increased. It seems like Mom hasn¡¯t been able to control her temper and my sister has no ability to speak for herself.


    I shook my head in disappointment.


    Dear God, why am I mocking us?


    Once Dad interfered with the situation, Mom¡¯s pleading came to a stop. Nevertheless, she continued to spill insults towards Abigail. On the other hand, my sister looks like someone poured acid into her heart. She had an inexplicable amount of pain on her face.


    Don¡¯t you feel sad, God? Why put her and us in this turmoil?!


    I was searching for God¡¯s guidance, but it was nowhere near. I don¡¯t doubt God; I know He has a plan for everything He does, but sometimes I wonder if this is really planned or just a mistake of His.


    Finally, after several minutes of Dad¡¯s interference, Mom¡¯s nerves were calmed.


    ¡°You must forgive her,¡± Dad said once Mom was mostly silent except for her heavy, angered breathing.


    But once the words left Dad¡¯s mouth, her features contorted into another angry expression.


    ¡°Why should I forgive her?!¡± she screamed, pointing at Abigail.


    Dad sighed before pinching his nose like he had a bad headache coming on before speaking in a calm but slightly firm tone.


    ¡°Because she¡¯s your daughter, Daisy. You should remember that before everything. You need to value her more than your egoistic pride.¡±


    Instead of agreeing with him, Mom only laughed humorlessly.


    ¡°My pride? Is that what you think I¡¯m worried about? Look at what she has done! Is this how we raised her? Why are you easily forgiving her?¡±


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t committed a crime, so just forgive her, and let¡¯s move on with our lives,¡± Dad said.


    Mom scoffed and crossed her arms stubbornly.


    ¡°Are you serious, Steve?¡±


    My father nodded firmly.


    ¡°Yes. Because you would¡¯ve done the same thing if you were in her shoes.¡±


    Mom looked offended.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Well, I never did.¡± She touched her hip before staring at Abigail who was looking at her feet, head down, mostly avoiding their gazes.


    She couldn¡¯t tolerate their watchful eyes, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I was their child. It was the first time in my life that mom stood against Abigail or genuinely said it was the first time I ever witnessed a public onslaught on my dearest sister. I couldn¡¯t quite comprehend whether I felt joy or misery in my heart. I was joyful seeing Abigail being slayed yet miserable at the turmoil she was going through.


    ¡°You would¡¯ve done the same if it were me,¡± Dad said a moment later.


    But Mom shook her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s different because we were in love with each other.¡±


    Dad cast a look in Abigail¡¯s direction before looking back at Mom.


    ¡°Yeah, well, so was she.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? You can¡¯t justify her actions like that.¡±


    Dad went on to further explain, hoping to get Mom to understand.


    ¡°She was in love and did whatever she could to win his love. Just like you skipped classes to meet up with me, she did what she thought was right to spend time with her lover,¡± Dad said. Whether it was convincing or not, Mom settled on his words.


    Abigail looked surprised at the news and was about to say something, but Mom silenced her with a wave of her hand.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true that I skipped classes, but I never shared such disgusting pictures to win your love.¡± Mom threw daggers from her eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s called the generational gap,¡± Dad sighed.


    Mom looked at him confused.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Dad, hearing her question, realized he needed to elaborate.


    ¡°You would¡¯ve done whatever you could to win my love, just like you married me against your mother¡¯s wishes. You would¡¯ve taken any pictures if I had asked you or if we had the technology that exists now back then.¡±


    ¡°I know. But we raised her to be a sensible Christian girl. Not someone who poses naked for creeps on the internet,¡± Mom said as tears cascaded down her cheeks.


    ¡°I know that Daisy, but love makes us do crazy things. So, you really to calm down and forgive her,¡± Dad said, pulling Mom into a comforting hug before leaning over to kiss Abigail on the forehead.


    Oh my god, where are the kisses for me?


    After Dad released her, Mom took a deep breath, rubbed her head, and sat beside Abigail. She was still in tears, which cascaded down her face like a waterfall. I went to get some tissues for her, and when I returned, she sent me a thankful smile.


    ¡°Whatever she did was wrong. Even if it was for love.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to say what she did wasn¡¯t wrong, but what happened was for a reason, and we must learn from those mistakes and move on instead of torturing her.¡± Dad sounded right; his words touched Mom¡¯s heart as her violent behaviour slowly faded away with a mixture of confusion and guilt taking its place.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom,¡± Abigail finally managed to say once she stopped sobbing.


    Mom, who had been calm moments before, glared at her harshly and, with shaking fingers, pointed at her. When she spoke, she was seething.


    ¡°After everything you did, you have the nerve to say that to me.¡±


    Abigail looked away at Mom''s hurtful, anger-filled comment. I felt terrible for her. Dad did an excellent job consoling Mom and Abigail. We rarely get to see this side of him, and I yearn for it. We all waited for years to see that side of Dad.


    After a few remarks and stating she was grounded, our parents took her phone, and Mom settled peacefully. Although I said it was peaceful, I didn¡¯t mean that their faces were etched with wide grins.


    I went to my room and told Pathum everything¡ªabout the conversation and every single emotion I felt. I even confessed about the jealousy that rose within my heart when Dad kissed her forehead.


    Pathum: Will she be okay then?


    Scarlet: Yep. Mom won¡¯t be mad at her for long.


    Pathum: That¡¯s good.


    Scarlet: Yeah.


    Pathum: And what about the police?


    Scarlet: Oh, gosh, I had forgotten about it, but Michael called us during our argument. He told us to visit the station as soon as possible to discuss some matters involving the case. So, I¡¯ll be leaving soon, but I¡¯ll still be able to talk to you.


    Pathum: Okay, Scarlet. I¡¯m glad it came to an end. What a crazy time it was, right?


    Scarlet: Yeah, but at least one good thing happened during everything.


    Pathum: And that is¡­


    Scarlet: Our friendship is getting stronger, and I¡¯m one hundred percent glad it worked that way.


    Pathum: Aww sweetie.


    Scarlet: We both can go to sleep peacefully from today onwards.


    Pathum: Yes, we all can sweetie. I¡¯m proud that we endured this problematic period together.


    Scarlet: I adore the time I spend with you. You were there with me from the beginning, and you didn¡¯t judge me or Abigail. You were helpful to us even though it was none of your business. So I¡¯m indeed blessed by God.


    Pathum: Oh, I must correct you. You said it was ¡®none of mine,¡¯ but trust me, it was ¡®my¡¯ business all the way, sweetie.


    Scarlet: You know how to talk, don¡¯t you?


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry I must break your heart a little. I¡¯m no good at talking, sweetie. Often, disasters happen when I open my mouth. I¡®m good at texting but not talking. You get the point, I guess.


    Scarlet: Yes, I do. Now shut up, you brat.


    Pathum: Oh, hehehehehe.


    We left the house and soon were at the police station. Michael greeted us at the door with a warm, bright smile and a polite, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Maybe capturing Victor was an all-time achievement for him. It seemed he was delighted with his boss for putting that scumbag behind bars.


    On the other hand, Freddy avoided our gaze. He came in and out of the room occasionally but never engaged in conversation with us. It was fine with us. None of us were pleased to have any contact with him.


    Things went well until we met the chief in his office with a stack of books on his table. He ordered us to take our seats and elaborated on the crimes Victor had committed. He was guilty of many cyberbullying and sexual assault cases so eventually he was sentenced to ten years in prison.


    We soon left and I texted Pathum.


    Pathum: Can you believe that it ended?


    Scarlet: No, but thank God it did.


    Pathum: Umm.. yeah


    Scarlet: What¡¯s wrong?


    Pathum: Umm.. Nothing.


    Scarlet: Pathum, don¡¯t make me repeat myself.


    Pathum: OMG, it seems like you¡¯re the boss.


    Scarlet: I sure am. So now tell me, what you were thinking?


    Pathum: It¡¯ll hurt you, and I don¡¯t want to do that.


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t care. Tell me what¡¯s going on in your head.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t.


    Scarlet: Stop being dramatic.


    Pathum: Oh my - did you just call me dramatic?


    Scarlet: Yes, I sure did.


    Pathum: How could you do that?


    Scarlet: Just look at you, proving what I said.


    Pathum: Um.. okay.


    Scarlet: Pathum tell me, what¡¯s wrong?


    Pathum: Nothing¡¯s wrong¡­


    Scarlet: There sure is something wrong, so spill the beans already.


    Pathum: Well, it¡¯s about thanking God.


    Scarlet: Okay. What¡¯s with it?


    Pathum: Shouldn¡¯t we also be thanking the officers for making the right decision and giving us justice? I know that thanking God first is necessary, and He was there all the way, but wasn¡¯t it the officers who made the change? Oh, it doesn¡¯t matter. Either way, He protected us, so that¡¯s all that matters.


    Scarlet: Yeah¡­


    Pathum: Sweetie, I told you I never meant to hurt you, please understand what I said.


    Scarlet: I didn¡¯t misunderstand anything so stop thinking likewise.


    Pathum: Are you sure?


    Scarlet: Yes sweetie. I¡¯m sorry if I make you feel like a victim. It wasn¡¯t my intention.


    Pathum: Okay, then. Thank God you¡¯re fine. Oh, gosh I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t mean to mock you or anything.


    Scarlet: I know, sweetie, so don¡¯t apologise. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so let¡¯s forget about that.


    Pathum: Okay. Oh, I¡¯m so sleepy.


    Scarlet: Aww, look at you. You¡¯re such an adorable little thing.


    Pathum: Oh, my goodness, you didn¡¯t just say that.


    Scarlet: Blab blaah blab shoooe


    Pathum: Umm. What in the butt was that?


    Scarlet: A sleeping spell.


    Pathum: Truth be told, if I wasn''t the adorable thing, it would be you.


    Scarlet: Okay. Well, anyway, I must go since we must do our prayers. I¡¯ll see you in the morning.


    Pathum: Okay, bye sweetie.


    Scarlet: Goodnight to you, sweetie, sleep well.

 Chapter 18

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    After saying goodbye to Scarlet, I opened my Pocketbook app, where all my book PDFs are stored, ready to be read. It¡¯s free, and it delivers the best. Where do I get these PDFs, you ask? Well, from the Internet or Google. All you must do is type in the title and mention a free PDF then you¡¯ll get one if you¡¯re lucky.


    I don¡¯t think it¡¯s illegal, even though most authors wouldn''t be happy to know people read their books for free. I might not if it were me, but still I¡¯d let readers read my books for free if they couldn¡¯t afford it. I¡¯d make it available to those in need. But still, I¡¯d appreciate fans who would pay for my well-being.


    It was still too early for me to go to sleep, so I chose to read the novel that I had been reading for the past week, Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I think the level of English in this book is higher than mine. Of course, it¡¯s better than my level. Not only do I struggle to pronounce the words on the screen, but I also find it challenging to grasp the dictionary''s meaning. That shows I¡¯m not on the level of Martin and will have to work hard to be in their position.


    Work hard, and one day you¡¯ll be like Martin or Tolkien. It¡¯s not a crime to dream of a better life.


    I started reading from the bookmark I left. The fantastic thing about this app is we can keep bookmarks, and it shows the date and time we put the mark. So, it¡¯s unique. Finally, seeing the dates is like a journey, and observing the progress is charming.


    Sleepiness was taking control over me by the time I was on page 10. I don''t know how, but suddenly, I was feeling so sleepy, so I stopped reading and closed the app, making sure to set the bookmark. I visited Google Hangouts and briefly noted the summary of the book I had read to her. I don''t have anyone else to talk to about books or anything.


    The only friend I have is Scarlet. She''s my everything; of course, that¡¯s why she¡¯s my bestie. I mean, of course, she isn¡¯t my only contact, but reasonably, she¡¯s the only contact number that I feel safe. The only contact I need or miss. It¡¯s strange, but she¡¯s the only one I have besides Mom, and I¡¯m glad she¡¯s the one.


    Quite literally and truthfully, I don''t have her number, but what I mean is that she¡¯s the only person I chat with 24/7 and the only one I feel like talking to.


    She¡¯s the only person other than Mom that has made me feel at peace.


    However, I guess she won''t come back anytime soon since she¡¯s at church, and it¡¯ll be evening when she comes home and morning for me. Hanging on to the last piece of consciousness, I texted her one final goodnight before I fell asleep.


    I woke up a few hours later but only unlocked my phone because I fell into slumber again before waking up again to my mother¡¯s insistent shaking. It was almost eight-- time for our morning cup of tea. I had managed to sleep for over eight hours, which also meant I had lost some time with Scarlet.


    Soon after going outside, I washed my mouth and face and drank a few sips of water, which gulped down my esophagus like burning acid. After that, I ate biscuits with tea.


    Opening the app, I got tons of messages from her, which I read with enthusiasm.


    Scarlet: Oh, you brat. You were supposed to be up by seven, but you slept until almost eight. How dare you?!


    Aww, she¡¯s cute; I can''t believe someone as cute as she is talking to me.


    Pathum: Oh, it sounds like I¡¯m in trouble; my apologies, ma¡¯am.


    Scarlet: Hehehe


    Pathum: What may I do to please you, my dear Ma¡¯am?


    Scarlet: You need to do ten squats now.


    Pathum: To do what? Improve the look of my butt? Oh, it sounds like you want to have a glance at that stunning butt of mine.


    Scarlet: Shut up, brat!


    Pathum: hehehehehe


    Scarlet: Did you have a nice sleep, sweetie?


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    Pathum: Yes, I slept for a long time, and now, I guess it''s your turn.


    Scarlet: Hey, I¡¯m not going to sleep anytime soon. I want to stay up with you and enjoy this night. I hope Victor doesn¡¯t try to evade the police.


    Pathum: Yeah, me too. I hope they take the necessary steps to punish him.


    Scarlet: I agree with that, but let''s forget about him. We don''t need to stress anymore.


    Pathum: Of course, let¡¯s kick him out. But I want to know what¡¯ll happen to the pictures. Will they be deleted, or is Abigail still in trouble?


    Scarlet: They¡¯re thoroughly investigating and making sure those pictures are out of existence. We¡¯re hopeful they¡¯ll succeed.


    Pathum: That¡¯s good to know. Anyway, let¡¯s forget about this and enjoy our time together. I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I bet you feel the same.


    Scarlet: Yes, I do feel the same way, sweetie.


    Pathum: Good. So, anyway, about the book I¡¯m currently reading on my phone, do you want to know about it, or should we talk about something else?


    Scarlet: No, no, that¡¯s perfectly fine. I want to hear about the story you read because it¡¯s a delight to listen to stories told from your perspective.


    Pathum: Aww, thank you so much. I¡¯m flattered, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Are you?


    Pathum: Yes, I am. I didn¡¯t read much of the book yesterday; it was only about ten pages.


    Scarlet: It¡¯s all right. I¡¯d love to hear about them anyway. The book you¡¯re reading sounds very interesting.


    So, I explained to her what my memory could trace: everything about the kind and humble Stark family and the selfish and cruel Lannister family.


    When I was done, Scarlet sent me another message.


    Scarlet: So, that¡¯s it? I want to hear more.


    Pathum: Yeah, that¡¯s about it. Hehe.. You¡¯re so cute.


    Scarlet: No, I¡¯m not, you are.


    I¡¯m not anything but boring. I thought, shaking my head at her.


    Thinking to myself, I smiled at her responses. She always made sure to defend me no matter what I said to her. Shouldn''t I be grateful to have a bestie like her? I should thank God or nature for giving me this innocent angel. Sometimes I feel like it¡¯s just a dream.


    We talked for a few minutes before she fell into slumber. She must¡¯ve had a tough day with church and the police. It must¡¯ve exhausted her. So, I wasn¡¯t mad at her; why should I be angry on earth, right? She''s, after all, my best friend or, more correctly, my only friend, if truth be told.


    In the evening, before our nightly cup of tea and after my bath, Mom and I engaged in a chit-chat. I told her the news that Scarlet and her family were free from everything. When I finished updating my mom on the situation, she gave me a genuine smile that lit up her whole face. She was so excited that Scarlet and her family were free from Victor and his horrible behavior¡ªI mean, we both were.


    This had been a long time coming.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad she¡¯s free now. But how¡¯s she been doing lately?¡± she asked, stirring my tea.


    ¡°Mmm¡­ good,¡± I replied. It was short, but still, I consider it a response; to my amusement, she didn''t see it as effective.


    I¡¯m not blaming Mom; I¡¯m blaming myself for being so boring. Why couldn''t I have given her a better response? I¡¯m such a loser.


    Was it too much? Am I so hard on myself? Should I allow myself to speak freely? Should I talk to people more often? I have no idea, but it remains a mystery. Not at all, but yeah.


    After I finished my tea, I waited for Scarlet to wake up. She slept more than eight hours, which I¡¯m glad for, but the selfish part of me wanted her to be awake and tortured by my presence. Well, she wouldn''t admit it, but isn''t it torture when you must listen to someone like me?


    Words can hurt, too, so don''t hurt yourself, spread kindness, and don''t seek the outside world for it to start within you.


    Oh really? Thank you, Pat.


    Is that my new nickname? I said to the voice inside my head.


    It replied with,


    Possibly, but don¡¯t you think it¡¯s better than being called a loser?


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± I replied.


    The rest of the day was spent on my biology notes. I know I shouldn''t solely focus on one subject, but I just made the same mistake. Maybe that¡¯s why my grades aren¡¯t great. My biology notes have lovely letters, but I must memorise them.


    It''s like someone poured a liquid into my left ear, which eventually fell into the right ear after a few minutes. I absorbed everything like a sponge. But when it comes to revising, I¡¯m like a stuttering fool who cannot decipher the information stored in the circuit.


    A few hours later, my bestie woke up as usual, and I ensured she was greeted with delightful morning prayers.


    Scarlet: Guess what?


    Pathum: What is it, sweetie?


    Scarlet: I have a surprise for you!


    Pathum: OMG! Really? What is it?


    Scarlet: You must wait since I¡¯m still preparing it.


    Pathum: What¡¯s this surprise? Can you give me a hint?


    You deserve shit, you freaking loser.


    Shut up. I deserve the world. Am I flattering myself? Whatever loser.


    Scarlet: A gift to show my appreciation for your presence.

 Chapter 19A

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    It was one of the sweetest days that I¡¯ll ever remember. Not because I finally had a good night¡¯s sleep or the fact that I wouldn¡¯t want to wake up anxious about the day but because there was so much potential stored to prosper.


    I got up, washed my face, and drank my morning tea before hurrying to work on Pathum¡¯s gift, which I¡¯d been thinking about. I should¡¯ve done it days ago. I never had the time to ever work on it, which I should have, but now I¡¯m not taking a step back. I¡¯m finishing it and making him realize his actual value. So, what''s my gift for him?


    It¡¯s a letter I wrote to teach him his actual value to me.


    After everything we''ve been through, he truly deserves some credit and appreciation. My bestie boy deserves it.


    Your bestie boy? Honestly, Scarlet?! Do I have a bestie girl, you ask? No, of course not.


    After Victor''s infliction on our lives, we became closer and our bond stronger. In some sense, we must thank Victor. No, I do not deny his faults, but he was one of the many reasons Pathum and I got closer. At the end of that dark tunnel, we were blessed with a massive glow.


    Even though I was late, he didn¡¯t complain about it. He was just glad that I slept well. Since I woke up, he was asking if I was okay, and even if I said I was fine, he wanted to know. He¡¯s so caring; I¡¯m glad to have him in my life.


    Eventually, I sat down and started writing my letter¡ªthe best I could deliver today. Taking a blank sheet of paper and my pencil, I began to work on my project.


    Dear bestie,


    So, I¡¯ve been thinking about writing to you. I admire your great qualities and how good you have been to me. My life has changed significantly since I met you. It has been a fantastic year for me. I thank God every day for bringing you into my life. Since I met you, everything that has happened to me has been joyful, pleasant, and peaceful.


    Besides the horrible things that happened, which was not your fault. So Pathum, thank you so much for bringing me all these gifts of kindness and love. I never felt love in my life like I felt from you. So, know that we¡¯re not only besties but also soulmates.


    Yes, we proved that a boy and a girl could be besties! We¡¯ll go on to prove that a boy and a girl can be besties and maintain that relationship for a long time. Yes, sweetie, we will show the world what we can do. It¡¯s a rare trait among humans, but we will achieve it and make the world fumble against its devildom.


    We¡¯ll pursue it. So don¡¯t ever worry; I won¡¯t leave you, I promise you that. I¡¯ll never let you go, even if you want me to. And I know you won¡¯t leave me, either. I want to say so many good things about you, but God knows my mind¡¯s racing with thoughts. Sweetie, I love you more than you can ever imagine, and I¡¯ll love you till the end of time.


    I¡¯m blessed to have you in my life, and it¡¯s my absolute privilege to say you¡¯re my most beautiful bestie. Thank you for everything you have done and hope to do for me. I can¡¯t imagine my life without you.


    Your bestie,


    Scarlet


    I sent him a picture of my letter and placed it in my book so that they''ll be with us when we need to remember good memories. It took him a few moments to process the letter, but once he did, he was so excited that he cried joyfully.


    Oh, God, how can I not love a sweetie like him? He couldn¡¯t stop sending me his thanks and crying emojis. He¡¯s so adorable. I know that one day, he¡¯ll have to leave me for his girlfriend. But until then, I¡¯m his bestie, and I won¡¯t let him go.


    I can¡¯t; he understands me better than anyone, so how could I? God, thank You so much for bringing him into my life. There couldn¡¯t be a better blessing than him. He¡¯s the best blessing the Lord has given me, and I know he¡¯s here to change my life.


    Pathum: Sweetie, I¡¯m so excited. You didn''t have to do that for me.


    Scarlet: I must, and I¡¯m glad I did.


    Pathum: Thank you so much, sweetie. I¡¯m so grateful. I am.


    Scarlet: Stop thanking me. Did you read the letter? I know you probably did, but did you read it fully?


    Pathum: Yes, I did, sweetie. I love reading those beautiful letters. Well, maybe you can work on your handwriting a bit more to make it more legible.


    Hehe, I¡¯m joking. Your writing is fine. Please don''t think I meant ugly, but your words are beautiful. I¡¯m only being honest here. Please don''t be hurt. I¡¯m so stupid. I should¡¯ve told you that better.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t worry, sweetie. You didn''t say anything new to me. My mom and sister have been complaining about my handwriting since kindergarten. I guess I¡¯ll never know how to write better.


    Pathum: Oh, my mouth! I hate myself. I shouldn¡¯t have said it. Your letters are just fine. I didn''t mean to say that they were ugly.


    Scarlet: That¡¯s fine. I¡¯m used to it, and most people say that to me.


    Pathum: But I¡¯m not among those people.


    Scarlet: Of course you aren¡¯t. You lifted me higher than anyone would, ignoring the ugly letters. But at the end of the day, I hope my handwriting is readable like you said; if it can be read, then I have nothing to worry about.


    Pathum: Scarlet, please listen to me. Can you do that for me? Listen.


    Scarlet: Yeah


    Pathum: Sweetie, don¡¯t give me that attitude.


    Scarlet: What attitude are you talking about? I don¡¯t have one.


    Pathum: Would you listen to me for once?


    Scarlet: Okay, I will.


    Pathum: So, about what I said earlier, I¡¯m so sorry that I said something rude. They were just not the right words for you. As you know, I don''t have control of my mouth and am often subjected to saying stupid, hurtful things like moments ago. So, let me clarify it for you. Your letters aren''t ugly or anything; they¡¯re good; in my eyes, they¡¯re good enough for me to read, and that''s it. Do you understand?


    Scarlet: Hmm.


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    Pathum: Oh, Scarlet, please don''t do this.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m not doing anything at all.


    Pathum: *crying emoji*


    Scarlet: Why are you crying?


    Pathum: Because I hurt you.


    Scarlet: What if I told you that you never hurt me in the first place?


    Pathum: Still, I¡¯m so sorry.


    Scarlet: Can we forget this and move on?


    Pathum: Yes, we can; I¡¯m sorry.


    Scarlet: So, tell me how the letter was, was it good or bad?


    Pathum: It was spectacular.


    Scarlet: Aww, I¡¯m glad.


    Pathum: So, you want to talk about how magnificent the letters were?


    Scarlet: I guess we shouldn¡¯t go there


    Pathum: Hey, I want to ask about him.


    Scarlet: Him, who?


    Pathum: You already know who.


    Scarlet: I don''t know who you are asking me about.


    Pathum: I mean him who makes your cheeks go red.


    Scarlet: OMG YOU I -


    Pathum: Exactly, it''s John.


    Scarlet: What do you want to know about him?


    Pathum: Anything and everything.


    Scarlet: But you already know everything about him.


    Pathum: No, I want you to remember him, his handsome figure, his excellent accent and cute facial features, and describe or repeat things you had told me in the past. Go on to work on a repetition. I would love to see those cheeks of yours glowing so red that they will melt your device.


    Scarlet: OMG, are you serious?


    Pathum: In the name of GOD. Yes.


    Scarlet: Stop.


    Pathum: Hehehe.


    Scarlet: I met John at church, but unfortunately, he moved to another state. It has been two months since I last saw him. He isn¡¯t the first guy I had a crush on, but the only one who didn''t pick Abigail over me. I think that¡¯s why I remember him more than anyone; maybe I wanted him to be mine. But it seems not everyone we like doesn''t like us back. I¡¯m not in love with him. I initially had an intense crush on him, and it developed further when he chose me over Abigail, but eventually, he left, and I had just a slight memory of him, I guess.


    But I still hope he comes back, and may my dreams come true. Life is not a fairy tale, nor does it have to be. So that''s the story of my crush.


    Pathum: That¡¯s one hell of a story.


    Scarlet: Pathum, please refrain from using such words; it''s against God.


    Pathum: OMG, sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to offend you. I was just saying that it was such a story. I am sorry.


    Scarlet: It¡¯s okay. But now, I must ask you one more favour.


    Pathum: And that is?


    Scarlet: Refrain from apologizing too much; people might use it against you.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry I promise I won¡¯t apologise unless I need to.


    Scarlet: Hahaha, are you sure you follow what you say? You already broke your promise twice. Hehe, it¡¯s just fun banter. So, since I told you about my crush, I would like to hear about yours. I know you mention some things about her, but I¡¯d like to hear the whole story if you¡¯re comfortable with sharing it with me.


    Pathum: Okay, be ready.


    Scarlet: I AM.


    Pathum: Okay, so about my crush, where do I begin? Scarlet, I¡¯m confused. I don''t know where to start.


    Scarlet: Begin with the most recent one.


    Pathum: Okay, so I¡¯ll let you know how many crushes I¡¯ve had. Well, I don''t know whether it¡¯s surprising, but I only had two crushes. Is that the right word? Whatever. I had my eyes on two girls officially. What does an official crush mean? Well, it means it¡¯s a girl whom I interact with. Someone who was asked whether they liked me or not by me or someone representing me.


    Scarlet: TWO lucky girls?


    Pathum: Umm... I doubt ¡®lucky¡¯ is the correct word to use.


    Scarlet: Are you saying I was wrong?


    Pathum: Of course not.


    Scarlet: Good. Keep going.


    Pathum: But remember, I may have had a million unofficial crushes. Like people, I see on the road and TV if they¡¯re taken. That''s a joke; I just made a joke, so did you laugh?


    Scarlet: Ummm¡­ I won''t spoil your mood, but go on.


    Pathum: Okay, so as I said, I had my eyes on two girls, and for God¡¯s sake, I wasn''t trying on two girls at the same time, okay? I am not that kind of boy. So, if we speak accurately, I interacted with my first crush back in 2017, which was three years ago.


    Scarlet: Interesting, interesting!


    Pathum: But I¡¯ll start with my recent one. She was my age and my height and pretty. She had dimples on her cheeks and short black hair, always in a ponytail. She was pretty from the outside but ugly from the inside. That''s harsh? Yeah, you¡¯ll understand why when I explain what happened to her.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sure you have your reasons for calling her that. No judging; go ahead. All ears are on you.


    Pathum: Okay, so I met her in Dhamma school, or in other words, like how you guys go to church on Sundays. We Buddhists have a day where we go to the temple and do our studies. They¡¯re primarily religious teachings.


    Scarlet: Got it.


    Pathum: Yes, just like you met your crush at church, mine was at the temple.


    Scarlet: Aww, alright, now, continue.


    Pathum: So now I¡¯m done explaining about my first. As I said earlier, we met at Dhamma school through a friend. It was a literature class, and suddenly, one of my classmates, Medha, asked me whether I knew about a boy.


    I didn¡¯t hear the name correctly, so I shook my head and said I didn¡¯t know. And the very next day at Dhamma, I was sitting in my seat when suddenly this girl turned to me and asked me which school I was attending, and then she asked if I knew a girl called ¡®Medha¡¯.


    Since I knew it was my classmate, I nodded and said yes. It was a brief meeting, but it was the first time I interacted with my crush. That was the beginning of a story. However, due to poor communication, I misinterpreted the girl as the boy.


    Scarlet: So that''s how your second crush began.


    Pathum: Just like she started, she also participated in ending it. Hehe


    Scarlet: Aww, I¡¯m sorry.


    Pathum: It¡¯s fine, but let¡¯s continue, shall we?


    Scarlet: Let''s go.


    Pathum: Medha told me that Rashmee had asked fundamental questions about me, like where I lived, whether I did well in school and other things.


    Scarlet: Curiosity often leads us to unknown mysteries.


    Pathum: Haha, true!


    Scarlet: Go on. Don¡¯t stop.


    Pathum: So eventually I got a stupid idea. I was curious about Rashmee since she is pretty. I wanted to know whether she liked me or not. So, I told my classmate to check whether Rashmee was interested in me. That was my biggest mistake because Medha ended up revealing my plan to Rashmee. You might wonder what''s so wrong with knowing the plan, right?


    But the thing is my friend had told my crush that I was interested in her, which is 100% false. I was never interested; I only wanted to know whether she was interested in me. You get it?


    Scarlet: Yeah, I get it. It was a misunderstanding.


    Pathum: Exactly.


    Scarlet: So, what happened afterwards?


    Pathum: Well, the next week when I went to Dhamma, she was chatting with her friends and when they saw me everything changed. I ignored it because I have no business with them but unfortunately the misunderstanding had taken control of the situation. She directed her gaze to me and once we locked eyes, she gestured for me to come near her, which I ignored.


    I wasn''t willing to walk to a group of girls I had never talked to before. But her friend wasn''t giving up. She raised her voice and said something that I could hear. Can you guess what she said?


    Scarlet: No idea!


    Pathum: That crazy woman called my name.


    Scarlet: OMG really?


    Pathum: Absolutely!


    Scarlet: Gosh. Why did she have the nerve to do that?


    Pathum: They were familiar and comfortable with the environment, unlike me.


    Scarlet: I understand.


    Pathum: So eventually, I had to go near them, and when I was walking near my crush, she opened her mouth to say something that shattered my whole life. I felt shame, fear, and shock blended with disappointment and uncertainty.


    Scarlet: OMG! What did she say?

 Chapter 19B

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    Pathum: She said, ¡®Did you want to convey a message through Medha?¡¯ And understanding what she meant, I replied, ¡®No, because it''s not something like that.¡¯ and then I couldn''t continue, so she stopped me by saying, ¡®I don¡¯t like you romantically, so get that idea out of your mind.¡¯


    I wasn¡¯t expecting that at all. I only had told Medha to ask Rashmee if she liked me, but what happened was that Rashmee believed I was interested in her. But I wasn¡¯t. She¡¯s the one who asked about me. But anyway, I lost my balance and fell, feeling like I was floating in midair before walking towards my seat, sitting down, and laying my head on the table to close my eyes. All I had wanted to know was whether this girl was interested in me. Does that make sense?


    Even though Pathum didn¡¯t see it, I nodded sympathetically, my thoughts going everywhere.


    Yes, I understand your situation, Pathum. But ugh, how could she break his heart? If I were with him, I¡¯d defend him no matter what. I wouldn''t let anyone hurt him. I¡¯d rather die than allow anyone to inflict pain upon him. But would Pathum let me die? No, I highly doubt it. Nevertheless, no one shall hurt Pathum. Not on my watch.


    Scarlet: Wow, she sounds so rude.


    I wish I were there to console him, but it has already happened. There''s no time machine to change things. What matters now is helping him heal from the experience. What I can control is the present; the past can''t be changed. It happened, and whatever happened happened because it needed to.


    Pathum: Sadly, it was just the beginning.


    Oh boy! That was just the beginning? I stared at the screen, my jaw dropping in surprise, before typing in my following comment.


    Scarlet: Wow, interesting!


    I hope I didn''t sound stupid.


    Pathum: I suppose. But are you sure you want to listen to it?


    Yes, of course, hunny! I do love to listen to you. I¡¯m flattering myself, but he¡¯s just unique. He knows how to tell a story with excellent narration.


    Scarlet: Yes, of course! But are you sure you want to tell me? If you¡¯re uncomfortable with it, you don¡¯t have to say anything about it. You know I won¡¯t force you.


    However, I have a feeling that he wants to tell me, but will that hurt him? I don¡¯t want him to be in discomfort just because I¡¯m interested in hearing a story from his past.


    Pathum: Oh, absolutely!


    Great! I¡¯m all in. I thought with a smile.


    Scarlet: Awesome, me too!


    Pathum: Alright. So, anyway, she took the first step in lighting the fire while I gradually threw straw. But what happens when you try to stop a fire by adding more straw? Well, it¡¯ll only create an even bigger fire. It''s like replacing petrol with water. You pour a gallon of it onto something on fire, hoping it¡¯ll have the same effect as water, but where do you end up?


    Dang, he knows how to be poetic. Is this truly my bestie? Whoa, I can¡¯t believe it.


    Scarlet: You end up with an even bigger mess.


    Pathum: Yes, exactly!


    Crap! I was right. I groaned, putting my face in my hands. Poor Pathum!


    Scarlet: So, Rashmee, why did you not have feelings for her at first?


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    What? I can¡¯t help that I¡¯m curious! Isn''t he something to study? I could do a case study regarding him. I¡¯m not flattering, but I¡¯m proud to have him in my life. Thank you, Lord.


    Pathum: She was pretty and attended a better school due to her wealth. I¡¯m not a beggar, but still, she had a higher income than us. I didn''t even consider her because I had no idea about it. I didn''t even notice her before all this happened because I knew I had no chance with her. But things change. Oh, well, that reminds me of what happened next.


    Oh, Pathum, I get it now. My eyes stared at the screen sympathetically before I typed in my following message.


    Scarlet: Ok, go on.


    Yikes, I can''t wait!


    Pathum: Since I was still shocked by what she had said to me, I spent the whole morning thinking about what I could do to eliminate my shame. I couldn¡¯t walk away from it like a loser and knew I had to say something to her. So, when I finally mustered up the courage, I went to speak to her after Dhamma school ended. Yes, I waited a long time, but eventually, I got my chance. She was with a friend when I walked up to her. She said Medha had mistakenly told her I had feelings for her when I didn¡¯t and that we should move on. I then apologized for the mistake and hoped she¡¯d be


    okay. She took it like a champ. Then, several weeks later, she confessed her newfound feelings for me to Medha, which surprised me.


    As I read the message, my eyes narrowed in envy, and a sour expression came across my face. But I snapped out of it moments later, shaking my head and scolding myself. I couldn¡¯t believe what I was thinking about. I was so glad Pathum couldn¡¯t see my expression.


    I¡¯m not envious; why on earth would I be? We¡¯re just talking about a past incident with one of his crushes. But why did she say she didn''t like him in the beginning? Was she nuts?


    Scarlet: OMG, she didn¡¯t!


    Pathum: Yeah, she did, and I was like, ¡®Is she out of her mind?¡¯ because I couldn¡¯t believe it. I lost my mind when I heard her telling Medha she was now in love with me. Can you believe that?


    No, I undoubtedly cannot.


    Scarlet: No. But what happened next?


    Pathum: Several weeks passed, and we both had many chances to smile at each other, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to talk to her again. I was too spineless and shy.


    Spineless? Here he goes with degrading himself again. I appreciate everything about him except when he disrespects himself. He ought to have some self-appreciation for himself. He needs to see that he¡¯s such a wonderful person.


    Scarlet: Why do you say that about yourself?


    Pathum: Because I never asked for her number.


    Oh, I see, but I¡¯m so glad he didn¡¯t. Oh God, why am I so happy about this? Gosh, what¡¯s gotten into me today? Have I started liking Pathum as more than a friend or something? Honestly, I don¡¯t know anymore. I¡¯m so confused.


    Scarlet: OMG! And why not?


    Pathum: I have no idea. I was just a stupid lad. It never occurred to me that I needed to get her number. All I cared about was seeing her every week at Dhamma or classes. All while Medha communicated between us. Do you understand? I was too shy to talk to her or ask for her number. But you know what?


    Aww, he¡¯s such a cutie.


    Scarlet: What?


    Pathum: I¡¯m glad that I never asked for her number.


    Scarlet: Why do you say that?


    Pathum: If I had her number, I would¡¯ve made a mess out of it.


    Scarlet: What? Why do you think you would¡¯ve done that?


    Pathum: A few months after she confessed her feelings to me, she ended up going back on her word and rejecting me. I still remember that rainy day at Dhamma where I came to class and saw people throwing curious and concerned glances at me. I ignored them and went to Rashmee, who was with her friends, and she didn¡¯t look at me or want to talk to me. It made me realise something was wrong. One of her friends then saw me and gestured for me to come over to them, but I shook my head and told Rashmee I¡¯d talk to her during a break. However, the conversation we ended up having ruined my day and pushed me into an even darker pit than before.


    Scarlet: Oh, wow. That sounds terrible. What did she say to you that upset you so much?


    Pathum: It was a question that she asked that upset me, and when I replied, I knew I had messed up badly. However, I knew where she was going with that question. She knew what she was doing and played her part well. I didn¡¯t realize it that day but should¡¯ve taken it like a man and digested properly, but no, I didn¡¯t. Like I said, I made a huge drama-filled mess about it.


    Scarlet: And what was the question?


    I stared at the screen, pondering all the possibilities, but I was unprepared for his answer. When he gave it to me, my jaw dropped in shock.

 Chapter 19C

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    Pathum: She asked me, ¡®Why do you assume that Rashmee still likes you?¡¯


    I then said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    I knew where she is taking this conversation into. She just indirectly means my time is over or in other words her heart has changed and I am eliminated from her life. And that was it; my world shattered around me. I had feelings for her by that point in time. Initially, I didn''t develop feelings for her, but after getting to know her, I started to develop some and here her friend goes into saying it''s over. My world couldn''t be more great by that point.


    Scarlet: I see¡­ but didn¡¯t she start everything by confessing her feelings to you before rejecting you?


    Pathum: Yeah.


    Scarlet: Ugh, I¡¯m sorry, Pathum. I¡¯m ashamed to say that she¡¯s a female. I really am. She shouldn¡¯t have done any of that. She seems like the kinda girl who discards boyfriends when she feels like it.


    Pathum: I know, sweetie , but it¡¯s not the end.


    Pathum please


    Scarlet: Are you serious? That incident wasn¡¯t the end of that mess?


    Pathum: No, it was the beginning of me pooping myself.


    Scarlet: Oh¡­ I-I don¡¯t know what to say. I¡¯m speechless.


    Pathum: It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to say anything.


    Scarlet: All right.


    Pathum: But anyway, as I was saying, after she dumped me, I wanted her back in my life, so I did everything I could to bring her back to me. She was still my crush but wasn¡¯t my girlfriend, but I wanted her to be. So, I tried to pursue her but she successfully ignored all my attempts.


    Scarlet: Oh, you shouldn¡¯t have done it.


    Pathum: I know, but now I¡¯m glad she never became my girlfriend.


    Scarlet: Gosh, that¡¯s some story, isn''t it?


    Pathum: Yeah, it is. But do you want to know the horrible things she did to me?


    Scarlet: Yes, of course, get on with it if it doesn''t bother you.


    Pathum: Oh, it doesn¡¯t bother me one bit. I¡¯m just relieved that she¡¯s out of my life.


    Me too!


    Scarlet: Me too. And I¡¯m glad you¡¯re feeling good about it. I¡¯m listening.


    Pathum: Okay, so as you know, she rejected me; I guess let¡¯s use the word reject because to dump me, she would¡¯ve had to be my girlfriend in the first place. So anyway, whatever happened already happened, let¡¯s move on. So, as you know, I started to chase her once she dumped me. I know I shouldn''t have followed her like a puppy pleading for love, but unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t wise enough back in the old days.


    Scarlet: That¡¯s okay. You deserve someone better. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll end up with someone who truly loves you. You deserve the world.


    Pathum: Awww, thank you so much, sweetie.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re welcome, mister.


    Pathum: Anyway, aren¡¯t you tired of listening to my stories?


    Scarlet: No!


    Pathum: Good. I was just making sure, but I¡¯ll continue.


    Scarlet: Okay.


    I clapped my hands and smiled. Pathum wouldn''t want to see how excited I am to hear his beautiful stories. He¡¯ll probably die of embarrassment.


    Pathum: After dumping me, she went on to live her life, and I carried the weight of making her fall in love with me again. So came the day when I wrote my first love letter.


    Scarlet: Aww you wrote your first love letter to her? I¡¯ve never written one.


    That must¡¯ve been so cute. Anyway, why is my stomach tied in a knot? Am I jealous that Rashmee was the first girl to ever receive a love letter from Pathum? Well, that doesn¡¯t matter; he¡¯s my bestie, and of course, he can have a girl whenever he wants.


    Pathum: I wrote it in English and even drew a heart on the bottom then Medha coloured it. And as always I was spineless. I didnt directly gave her the letter instead I gave it to my friend Medha who gave Rashmee the letter, her eyes lit up with interest and she stared at me all the way home from classes. That¡¯s when I knew I caught her attention again.


    Scarlet: OMG, so what happened afterward?


    Did she fall in love with him again? I hope whatever happens may be on a good note.


    Pathum: I lit a fire, and she was excited when she saw it. How do I know? Well, that¡¯s what Medha told me. I¡¯m so embarrassed that I needed a girl to deliver the letter to her for me since I couldn¡¯t do it myself.


    Wow really? It¡¯s like Medha did most of the love, I¡¯m surprised Medha didn¡¯t fall in love with Rashmee because she did most of his work. Hey, no, Pathum is all right. He¡¯s cute the way he is. So, hush. He¡¯s a shy guy so it¡¯s understandable. Of course, he never used Medha; he only sought her help. How dare I think he used her? God punish me, because how dare I accuse my bestie of doing such a dreadful thing?


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    Scarlet: I get it. So, what happened next?


    Pathum: She was so close to falling in love with me again. And since our hopes were high, I thought about writing another letter to her, which was epic.


    Aww, this boy knows how to tell a story. Epic? Does this mean he did something incredible for his second letter? Gosh, just listen to him.


    Pathum: So what happened was I wrote the letter but needed Medha¡¯s help to deliver it and I got an interesting response.


    Boy, don¡¯t keep me hanging. Just say it already.


    Scarlet: Did she kiss you?


    Ugh, why did I just say that? I hope that they didn¡¯t kiss!


    Pathum: Your guess was marvelous.


    Scarlet: OMG, why?


    Pathum: Because it¡¯s wrong; she never kissed me. Gosh, such things never happen. I¡¯ve never touched her or any girl in my whole life. I¡¯m still a virgin, Scarlet Baker!


    Thank God they didn¡¯t¨C Wait a minute, why does it matter to me anyway? It shouldn¡¯t! But his sense of humour is always amazing¨C however, his virginity is not a joke and it¡¯s not my concern. Oh, is it not? Yes, Scarlet, yes! Gosh why does the fact he¡¯s a virgin make me relieved ? I don''t understand you Scarlet Baker!


    Scarlet: So, what happened?


    Pathum: I got a picture of my letter through Facebook Messenger. Someone had gotten ahold of it and intended to share it with me. But would you like to know who got my letter?


    Scarlet: Who was it?


    Pathum: Rashmee¡¯s boyfriend.


    Scarlet: What the heck?! Where did he come from?


    Pathum: Well, let me rephrase that. He was her new boyfriend who she happened to find within a week since she had a slight interest in me.


    Scarlet: Wow. She¡¯s a horrible person.


    Pathum: I know, and it¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t need those people in my life. I¡¯m ashamed for trying to make her mine.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t blame yourself, sweetie.


    I¡¯m not going to let him take the blame for how horrible that girl was.


    Pathum: Things got intense because her boyfriend threatened me, but I didn¡¯t want to back away. Instead, I decided to stand up for myself, and we got into a heated argument, which ended with me saying, ¡®Let¡¯s end it here and now,¡¯ and he agreed. I never heard from him again. However, the most embarrassing part of it was that I even thought about having a gang fight against him for me. But fortunately, no one broke a tooth or anything; since there wasn¡¯t even a fight in the first place.


    I never would have forgiven myself if I ever got into a fight because of her. Is it even worth sacrificing your life for a girl who changes boyfriends from season to season?


    No, I don¡¯t think so. She¡¯s such a horrible, selfish bitch. Oops, sorry, please forgive me for my terrible language, my Lord. I just didn¡¯t know how else to describe her. I thought, biting my lip at my thoughts before typing something into the chat.


    Scarlet: Can we forget about her and talk about something else?


    Honestly, I hate that Pathum had to go through that and hated it more than he had to relive the past just to explain it to me. I don¡¯t want him to be uncomfortable. I wouldn¡¯t be a good friend if I allowed him to wallow in his discomfort.


    Pathum: Yes, that¡¯s a good idea. Let¡¯s forget about her now.


    Scarlet: She was. But wait, you never told me about your first crush. Would you mind sharing it with me, or is she worse than Rashmee?


    Pathum: No, my first crush is special. I mean, you might be shocked when I tell you about her.


    Scarlet: OMG! Is she a royal, celebrity, or something?


    Pathum: Umm, no.


    Scarlet: Okay. Now you really must tell me!


    Pathum: Of course, but do you promise me you won''t judge me?


    Scarlet: Pathum, when did I ever judge you?


    Pathum: Well, my first crush is quite special not only because she was my first but because of what happened when people learned about it. Once I was exposed, I became a villain.


    Scarlet: OMG, why does it involve so many people? If you¡¯re uncomfortable sharing it, don¡¯t tell me anything. You can keep it to yourself.


    Pathum: No, I want to share it with you. I¡¯m just scared of what you¡¯d think when you learn about her.


    Scarlet: Seriously, what¡¯s with this girl?


    Pathum: Umm¡­


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sorry for asking, but is it because she¡¯s a child?


    Pathum: NO, WHAT THE HECK?! Scarlet, I¡¯m not that type of person. Ugh, I won¡¯t tell you anything again.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, calm down. Take a deep breath and forget what I asked. It was just a question, and the answer was a simple ¡®no,¡¯.


    Pathum: I¡¯m so sorry, I was rude. I panicked.


    Scarlet: It¡¯s fine, it was my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have asked that of you.


    Pathum: No, don¡¯t blame yourself. I want to tell you about her. But can you promise me you won''t judge me?


    Scarlet: If you ask me that question again, I will¡ªso, hush. I¡®d never judge you. So tell me about this girl. Where did you meet her? At Dhamma school or class? What does she look like? Is she pretty like your bestie?


    Pathum: No. She doesn¡¯t go to Dhamma school or probably never has.


    Scarlet: Oh, why is that?


    Pathum: Because she¡¯s Muslim.


    Scarlet: OMG! Are you serious?


    Pathum: Oh, please don¡¯t look at me like I¡¯m a criminal.


    Scarlet: Oh, God, I¡®m not thinking you¡¯re a criminal, sweetie.


    Pathum: I¡¯m glad you think that, but people at school¡­ they judged me, said cruel things about me, and just mocked me. They were so hateful, and I was hurt¡ªthey called me a bad person just because I liked her, a Muslim. You know its a rare thing to see a muslim girl with a buddhist boy, something that will never happen. But stupid me thought it could go well and gosh didnt it ruined my fame. I don''t give a dang about my fame but still I got hurt by the society. I mean by the people in the school.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sorry, Pathum. May the devil take them. So, don¡¯t worry about them anymore; they no longer exist. And I¡¯m so sorry for what they did but trust me, I won¡¯t let them hurt you again. If you¡¯re scared, just know I¡¯m here. Okay?


    Pathum: *crying emojis* ??


    Scarlet: Awww¡­.. Don¡¯t cry, sweetie.


    Pathum: I¡¯m okay. But anyway, are you surprised that my first crush was on a Muslim girl?


    Scarlet: Yeah, I sure am.


    Pathum: I promise I¡¯ll share her story soon, but I¡¯m feeling quite tired now. Would you forgive me if I postponed it for another day?


    Scarlet: Of course, sweetie. Go to sleep now. You need to rest.


    Pathum: Thanks. Goodnight, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Goodnight, Pathum. I hold you to your promise.


    Once Pathum was offline, I was left sitting there, deep in thought.


    Seriously a Muslim girl? She must¡¯ve been beautiful or in some way must¡¯ve been so special. How else could a Muslim have his heart?

 Chapter 20

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    Yesterday Scarlet sent me a wonderful letter. Gosh she¡¯s so cute. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine her to do something like that. Well it was because I never had anyone send me a letter before. It¡¯s a surprise but at the same time not so much to see her do something like that for me. She¡¯s too precious.


    I want to write back to her as soon as possible since it¡¯s been a day since I received mine. I don''t want to be late.


    She deserves to smile more often. Oh so are we ignoring the fact that I never smile for pictures as much as Scarlet has told me?


    It doesn¡¯t make any sense, does it?


    What do you mean?


    It doesn¡¯t make sense to mention your smile or hers. Just write that useless piece of shit already. You probably can¡¯t do it successfully. She¡¯ll puke at your words.


    Oh shut your mouth, you misanthrope. She¡¯ll love my words. I believe they¡¯ll create happiness in her heart.


    Aren¡¯t you the misanthrope?


    I ignored my internal voice. There¡¯s no greater misery than arguing with it. Let me focus on the task at hand.


    So I took a pen and some paper and wrote the first thing that came to mind.


    The first words were ¡®Dear happiness,¡¯ instead of ¡®Dear Scarlet¡¯. It would without a shadow of a doubt lift her spirits higher.


    Lame. My internal voice responded.


    I was surprised that I came up with happiness as a title for the letter, although it¡¯s not called that. But whatever it¡¯s called, I couldn¡¯t continue writing so I stopped and threw away the paper.


    I then took another piece and started to write again but it occured to me that blue isn¡¯t the right colour. So I threw away that piece of paper as well.


    Finally, I took a third sheet of paper and It went as planned as I was writing with the pink pen. I¡¯m not a girl but pink is better than blue.


    This letter is meant to make her feel fulfilled and safe. Like she means the world to me. She truly is the world for me.


    Dear happiness,


    This is my third time attempting to write this letter for you. I¡¯m excited and nervous, but above all it¡¯s always a pleasure to write to you. I love you, sweetie. I¡¯ve loved you from the day I met you. I knew we were going to have a special friendship. You¡¯re the angel sent from heaven to erase the existence of my nightmares. This isn¡¯t sugar coating or exaggeration. This is real poetry! I¡¯m no good when it comes to poetry but when I must describe things to you, suddenly I¡¯m a great poet.


    It isn¡¯t because I¡¯m talented or that¡¯s how I function but it¡¯s all because you¡¯re the missing piece to my heart. You¡¯re the most valuable piece of my conundrum, the light to my darkness, and the best friend I¡¯ve ever wanted to have. But most importantly, it¡¯s because you¡¯re a special person. I¡¯ll say it again; I don¡¯t have any talent when it comes to poetry but when it comes to describing you, I do.


    What does that mean you ask? It means you¡¯re a special being, and never forget that.


    When I saw that letter you wrote, it broke me internally and externally. I couldn¡¯t stop the tears from falling nor did I wish for them to stop. Your letter was a catalyst for my tears. I loved how you manage to string words together and describe the ringing of your heart. I saw the effort of an angel. How could I not appreciate that?


    So now I¡¯ll go on to explain why you¡¯re special.


    You¡¯re the first girl with whom I¡¯ve video chatted with and that was one of my happiest memories. You¡¯re also the first girl to talk to me kindly! I¡¯m lucky to have a bestie like you. And another thing, you¡¯re also the first girl to become my bestie. So sweetie you have always been important and always will be my best friend no matter what. Even if I get a girlfriend, I¡¯ll love you more, but I hope that she¡¯ll love you too. I know it¡¯s childish but what¡¯s so wrong about having those ideas? We proved that a boy and girl can be best friends and we¡¯ll also prove we can be besties forever.


    I love you Scarlet, and I¡¯ll protect you as well. It¡¯s my responsibility to protect you. You¡¯re my soulmate. The world may mock us, but we don¡¯t need to give any importance to their words and actions; they judge the world based on their perspectives. So, let them judge us while we shine together.


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    Thank you,


    Pathum.


    After I finish writing, I send her the letter. Judging by her reaction, I can tell she was happy. Wasn¡¯t that the exact thing I wanted to do?


    Scarlet: OMG! I just finished reading it.


    Pathum: And..?


    Scarlet: Gosh I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re even real. Thank you so much for staying with me through every single thing that happened. You¡¯re a blessing that I never thought would become true. Thank you so much, hunny!


    Pathum: Aww thank you credits for you sweetie.


    Scarlet: I did nothing but exist.


    Pathum: That¡¯s all you need to do. Your existence is precious. Without you my life would be so boring.


    We talked for a while and our conversation went to the point where she desperately begged for a picture of me. I couldn¡¯t refuse, not when she begs me.


    So, I took a quick picture and sent it to her. It wasn¡¯t perfect. I never looked nice. I¡¯ve always had ugly features, so why should I deny it? Eventhough my bestie always tries to be postive and lift my spirit saying all good that can be extracted from the picture.


    Soon, I got a message.


    ¡°My mom¡¯s complaining that you aren¡¯t smiling. Can you retake the picture? Please?¡±


    I cannot deny it.


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I replied out loud. Even though I gave a quick response with text, I couldn''t return the same favour from a picture.


    I tried many different ones of me smiling but they failed. However after several attempts, I finally managed to take a picture of me smiling. I thought it was a nice picture so I sent it to her. It wasn¡¯t long before she replied.


    ¡°You¡¯re so cute my prince, but smile a bit wider,¡± she texted.


    I took another picture, making sure to smile a bit wider though I think I look uglier. I retook it twelve times until I felt like I had the perfect one. Finally, I decided to send it not because it was perfect but because I was tired of taking pictures.


    She replied with, ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you! Look at how handsome you are.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much, bestie but don¡¯t be sad. I think I look terrible in those pictures. I don¡¯t think these pictures are any better than the first ones I sent you.¡± I texted her.


    ¡°Shush, my prince. You look so cute,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Thank you so much, bestie!¡± I texted her back.


    Scarlet: Also, guess what? My grandma saw you and she thinks you¡¯re cute!


    Pathum: Oh, that¡¯s nice. Please say hi to her from me.


    Scarlet: She told me to tell you she says hi, and asked if you were my boyfriend. I told her that you were. Haha, man, I wish you were here to see how my mom reacted! It was so funny.


    I smiled fondly to myself. She¡¯s so innocent.


    Pathum: Awww¡­ do you have any pictures of your grandma?


    I¡¯m sure she¡¯s as beautiful as Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Of course. Let me send you some.


    Pathum: Okay.


    Scarlet: Ugh! I can¡¯t seem to send the pictures! The network is a mess, so let me send you the link for Google Photos. I¡¯ve uploaded some pictures of us there, so you can see them.


    She sent me the link and I saw her grandma. She looks beautiful so I mentioned that to her in our Google Hangouts conversation. I commented on the nice pictures of her and her family in google photos. It¡¯s like an album, we can add more pictures as well as comment and share. I never knew this feature of Google Photos existed until now. Thanks to her, I learned something new.


    Thank you, Scarlet. Without you this loser would¡¯ve been alone.


    I created a Cloud service in Google Photos, saving both our pictures. Now we don¡¯t have to wait for hours until our pictures are sent. It¡¯s amazing how we began talking on Wattpad and then moved onto Google Hangouts and Google Photos.


    I wonder what our next step will be?


    I typed in the chat:


    Pathum: Your grandma is beautiful, please tell her that.


    Scarlet: Aww! I¡¯m going to go tell her you said that.


    Pathum: Go girl!


    Scarlet: She squealed in delight, and she told me to tell you ¡®thank you! I¡¯m grateful to have heard such a nice comment from you young man. Stay healthy and may God bless you!¡¯


    Pathum: Thanks! And may God bless y''all. ??


    Scarlet: Thank you. Now, are you sleepy my short prince?


    Pathum: Nope. I¡¯m not going anywhere, Princess. And you might want to continue addressing me as a prince since I¡¯m your boyfriend.


    Scarlet: You don¡¯t have to say that you¡¯re my boyfriend. It was a joke my Grandma made.


    Pathum: Lies!


    Scarlet: I¡¯ll never be your girlfriend and you won''t be my boyfriend in a million lives.


    Pathum: Gosh. I was just joking. Don¡¯t be so serious sweetie.


    God! My humour doesn¡¯t seem to work on anyone.


    Scarlet: I know sweetie! I was playing along.


    Oh, never mind, thank God!

 Chapter 21A

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    Grandma! What were you thinking?! I blushed with embarrassment before being startled by a message from Pathum.


    Pathum: Hey, where¡¯s your grandma?


    Scarlet: She¡¯s having her lunch.


    Pathum: Good. Tell her she has a good sense of humour that¡¯s much better than mine.


    Scarlet: Okay, my dear boyfriend.


    Pathum: OMG, are you teasing me again, Scarlet?


    Scarlet: No¡­. Why would I do that?


    Pathum: Because that¡¯s what you do, Scarlet!


    Scarlet: Again, no I¡¯m not but I guess YOU are teasing me.


    Pathum: Oh shut up, darling!


    Scarlet: Darling?


    Pathum: Oh come on, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Let¡¯s stop hehe.


    Pathum: Okay. Well what shall we discuss now?


    Scarlet: We should talk about roses!


    Pathum: What about roses?


    Scarlet: What¡¯s your opinion about them?


    Pathum: Well, I don''t hate or love roses.


    Scarlet: So you¡¯re neutral?


    Pathum : Umm.. maybe I love roses but not obsessed. But guess what?


    Scarlet: What?


    Pathum: Either you love them or hate them because when you play a game of roses, you either pick a rose or throw it away. There¡¯s no middle ground.


    Scarlet: WOW!


    Pathum: HEHEHE!


    Scarlet: Let me guess, this has something to do with that book you¡¯re reading?


    Pathum: Yes. It has something to do with the character Cersei Lannister from the book I¡¯m reading. I have a few more pages to read before I¡¯m done with it.


    Scarlet: I knew it.


    Pathum: Of course you know. You¡¯re my bestie.


    Scarlet: That''s right! It¡¯s a bestie thing! *winks*


    Pathum: Hehehe


    Scarlet: But guess why I mentioned roses?


    Pathum: No idea! Maybe because there are roses in your grandma''s backyard?


    Scarlet: It seems that we¡¯re truly soulmates. You got it right.


    Pathum: Yay! And we truly are sweetie.


    Scarlet: Aww!


    I proceeded to send him the pictures that I took. There were many colours: pink, red, and even indigo roses. I took separate pictures of each flower before taking a group picture of them.


    Pathum: Wow! They¡¯re so beautiful. Beautiful like¡­


    Scarlet: Like ?...


    Pathum: Scarlet¡¯s and¡­


    Scarlet: And?


    Pathum: Pathum¡¯s friendship!


    Scarlet: That¡¯s it?


    I think his metaphor is quite good, but a much better interpretation will be his heart and those roses.


    Pathum: Yeah.


    Scarlet: Okay. But do you know what I think?


    Pathum: No, not that I could read minds but I believe it has something to do with my heart and roses.


    Scarlet: OH MY GOD. How the heck did you know that?


    Pathum: Oh that¡¯s simple.


    Scarlet: Oh, no, no I can¡¯t believe it. Please tell me you didn¡¯t hack my mind.


    Pathum: Hehe


    Scarlet: Tell me how?


    Pathum: It was simple, sweetie. I remember one day you spoke about hearts and roses. So I made a simple guess and fortunately it was true.


    Scarlet: How could that be a coincidence?


    Pathum: I guess that is something soulmates have, they¡¯re bonded with each others¡¯ heart and mind.


    Scarlet: True! So how was the chapter? Have you written it?


    Pathu: Speaking of that, I think I need to rewrite a few scenes. The ones I have seem like they¡¯re rushed.


    Scarlet: Oh okay. I get it, but I must say your writing is something to admire.


    Pathum: Aww thank you, but my writing wouldn¡¯t be any good if it weren¡¯t for you. You really helped a lot. Thanks to you, I was able to publish the prologue and work on some other chapters.


    Scarlet: I love to hear your story, I know you told me about it briefly but can you elaborate a lengthy explanation because I love to hear some stories from your end. But only if you aren¡¯t busy, alright? And only if you want to do so.


    Pathum: Well the only thing I¡¯m expecting is to fall asleep which I¡¯ll achieve anytime soon. But before I do, I¡¯d like to explain my story to you.


    Scarlet: Awesome! Are you sure you want to stay up until late at night?


    Pathum: A hundred percent.


    Scarlet: Okay. Well, begin master.


    Pathum: Okay. So this all began way back in 2015, I don''t remember the month or day but our school had an English day programme. It was just a few students and our English teacher. Nothing fancy or foreign, just some events and games. It was a wonderful day. So how it began was that our teacher gave us a simple task where she gave us a picture and told us to write about it. It was like a picture description, we need to write that there¡¯s a forest and there¡¯s a girl in a red dress blah blah I guess you got the point.


    I don¡¯t know how I began it but I described the forest and the girl while others were focused on a simple picture description. I focused on the girl and the forest behind her as a backstory for The Epic Journey. So I don¡¯t know why I wrote it or how it happened, it just happened.


    I never planned to do so, all I wanted to do was write something but I ended up in a much better story. And guess what? Our teacher was impressed by my effort and even gave me a present.


    Scarlet: Wow! You never told me this part of your story.


    Pathum: Well, I did it now. I hope you aren¡¯t mad at me.


    Scarlet: Are you crazy? Why would I be mad at you? It¡¯s your choice and I¡¯m glad to have heard it from you. I¡¯m just so grateful, sweetie.


    Pathum: Aww!


    Scarlet: So I was just thinking about the title and the picture. You told me that there was a forest behind her.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Pathum: Well, there were technically just a few trees, but I imagined it as a forest.


    Scarlet: So that¡¯s how you came up with the title. ¡®The Hidden Forest¡¯. Wow, you¡¯re inspirational. I want to hear more about what happened afterwards and how you wrote your fantasy novel.


    Pathum: You¡¯re excited, aren¡¯t you?


    Scarlet: Yeah! Like I said it¡¯s always a pleasure to listen to stories from your point of view. You know how to tell a story.


    Pathum: Okay sweetie. I¡¯ll tell the whole story.


    Scarlet: Woo-hoo!


    Pathum: You¡¯re so innocent.


    Scarlet: I can guarantee I¡¯m not.


    Pathum: Shut up. For me you¡¯re an innocent soul. Don¡¯t argue with me and don¡¯t say bad things about yourself.


    Scarlet: Only if you do the same.


    Pathum: Okay, you got me. But no sweetie you¡¯re innocent and that¡¯s it. No more talk. Let¡¯s talk about me some other day.


    Scarlet: I¡¯ll let it slip just for today but don¡¯t expect me to appreciate myself when you¡¯re not doing the same. But go ahead and tell me the story.


    Pathum: All right. So it was 2015 when I planted the seed but it took 4 years until I started to write a novel. Yep even though I started that amazing concept in 2015, I didn¡¯t know about Wattpad so I never started to write. Okay let me explain my journey on how I began writing. Maybe some other day I¡¯ll continue explaining ¡®The Hidden Forest¡¯. The first step was in 2015 but the second step was in 2019 when I started my third novel on Wattpad.


    It was just a simple story in which Richard and his sister were finding a cure for their sick mother. Yep it was such a simple story but it was influenced by a certain series. My story took a whole other path. It went from a simple concept of saving the characters¡¯ mother to a world of twelve kingdoms.


    Scarlet: Wow, that¡¯s interesting!


    Pathum: So can you guess what was the series that influenced my book?


    Scarlet: I don¡¯t know, tell me.


    Pathum: A Song of Ice and Fire.


    Scarlet: What¡¯s that?


    Pathum: It¡¯s the book series the TV show Game of Thrones is based on. It was a huge influence for my novel.


    Scarlet: Oh, okay.


    Pathum: It seems it¡¯s the first time you heard about this series. Gosh I can¡¯t believe Louisiana is a state in America, among those skyscrapers and modern cities, there¡¯s this country life. America is something.


    Scarlet: I know sweetie. But we¡¯re not interested in those types of TV shows and films.


    Pathum: A Game of Thrones is an extravaganza.


    Scarlet: I guess it¡¯s your favourite series then.


    Pathum: It¡¯s not my favourite, but let¡¯s change the subject; I have a surprise for you.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m guessing you want me to guess now?


    Pathum: Yep. And you get a kiss if you get it right.


    Scarlet: Get your lips ready. I already know the answer.


    Pathum: I¡¯m not going to kiss your lips. I¡¯d just plant one on your forehead or cheek.


    Scarlet: I know, Mr. Sherlock.


    Pathum: I - HOW - omg how?


    Scarlet: It¡¯s just a bestie thing. I can¡¯t reveal the secret.


    Pathum: Come on, tell me.


    Scarlet: If I told you, it wouldn¡¯t be worth it. Let¡¯s keep it a mystery shall we?


    Pathum: Oh, come on, I can¡¯t wait.


    Scarlet: No. You have to learn to be patient.


    Pathum: Scarlet come on.


    Scarlet: Well, sweetie it wasn''t that difficult. I remember you telling me how special Arthur Conan Doyle was, you explained how good his books were and also I remember somewhere you mentioned this TV show. So I knew Sherlock had to be your favourite character. It wasn¡¯t that difficult because you wouldn¡¯t keep your mouth shut.


    Pathum: What? I¡¯m the opposite when it comes to real life. I rarely open my mouth.


    Scarlet: Me too!


    After that, Google Hangouts showed he was still online but there was no response. I figured he must¡¯ve fallen asleep.


    How cute!


    I was lost in my thoughts, remembering his face and how adorable he looked when he fell asleep. In his mind he¡¯s the ugliest creature but to me, he¡¯s far from that. I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s consumed with a ton of negativity.


    I couldn''t comprehend the reasons why he believes himself to be ugly. He needs someone to convince him to be happy with himself and smile. He doesn''t know it but when I see his smile, I forget my problems.


    I know it sounds stupid but his smile takes away my problems and he has no idea. But I won¡¯t let him hurt himself any longer.


    ¡°What are you smiling about?¡± Grandma asked. I didn''t even notice her approaching.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± I replied hesitantly.


    Upon noticing my tone, she shifted the conversation to a more comfortable topic.


    ¡°I remember I was nineteen when I fell in love with your grandpa. He was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me. I remember those days in which I spent daydreaming about him, so I know what it¡¯s like to be in your shoes.¡±


    My eyebrow furrowed in confusion as I stared back at her.


    What¡¯s going on? Does she think I¡¯m in love? What¡¯s that got to do with my smile?


    ¡°I was in denial at the first stage but later on I accepted my fate and it couldn¡¯t have been better.¡± Her smile widened.


    My heart rate increased and it raced further at the sight of my mom and sister.


    ¡°What¡¯s she talking about, Scarlet?¡± My mom demanded.


    I avoided her gaze while Abigail smirked at me in amusement.


    What the hell Abigail? What¡¯s with your smirk?


    ¡°She¡¯s denying that she has fallen in love,¡± Grandma said.


    I opened my mouth to protest but there was a lump in my throat. I couldn''t speak. I was murmuring. No words escaped my lips. I was stuck.


    God! Please tell them they¡¯re delusional. Pathum is my bestie, not my boyfriend.


    ¡°Oh.¡± that was my mom¡¯s response, while her lips stayed neutral. Abigail was still smirking at me.


    Ugh. Why is she smirking?


    ¡°She has to accept it someday,¡± she said to which I rolled my eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about her, but I bet Pathum is in love with her,¡± mom said, clearing her throat.


    What? No, he isn¡¯t. He¡¯s my bestie, that''s all. There¡¯s nothing else. Why do they think like that? Ridiculous!


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense,¡± I replied, my tone filled with frustration.


    ¡°Oh are we?¡± Mom raised her brow and Abigail tapped my cheeks playfully.


    I shrugged my shoulders the moment they came into contact with my skin. I wasn''t trying to be rude but I¡¯m not going to let them have some fun at my expense.


    ¡°He¡¯s my bestie, there¡¯s nothing other than that,¡± I replied.


    My mom didn¡¯t look convinced.


    ¡°Of course. We didn¡¯t say there¡¯s something other than that did we?¡±


    I brushed her off.


    ¡°Whatever mom.¡±


    I walked away out of the room and when I got outside, I was greeted with the sweet fragrance of roses in the backyard. I was mesmerised by the beautiful array of colours. They calmed my nerves and I couldn''t resist taking some photos with my phone. Every new photo I took had a remarkable resemblance to the previous.


    The lush green foliage that surrounded me calmed my nerves and the serene atmosphere was ideal for relaxation. Each flower is unique in its own way but they all complement one another in such a way that the garden appears to be a vivid canvas painted by God himself.


    As I wandered deeper into the backyard mainly avoiding their chitchat I discovered the little pond tucked away in a quiet corner. With every step I took, the gratitude and appreciation increased in my heart. Even with her illness, she¡¯s doing a marvellous job at maintaining her home.


    The lotus flowers with their pale pink petals and green lily pads, floating lazily on the water is a sight to behold. The tranquillity of the garden adds to the serenity of the backyard and is the ideal spot for quiet contemplation. A calming atmosphere to calm the mind and discover the serenity of the mind.


    Even though the backyard was nothing but the pond and a few roses, it¡¯s still a feast for the senses. As I inhale the aroma of the flowers, I squeeze the negativity out of my mind.


    I also made sure that I captured the beauty that folds with the noon light coming from the sun. My camera wasn¡¯t top notch but it was still good. I¡¯m fascinated both by the effort of Grandma to maintain this masterpiece of nature as well as the mesmerising roses.


    Once we went home, I made my way to the bathroom and took a quick shower. It was quite early but I still had my shower. I wasn''t feeling well, so I took some pills and rested on the sofa. Once Pathum woke up I made sure I delighted his mood with the wonderful experience I had in my grandma''s backyard.


    I guess I could add these pictures in my book as well. A new collection of flowers to add beauty and attract more readers. But I¡¯ll do it some other day. As always, he commented on the flowers as well as my photography skills even though I don¡¯t admire them much; he seems to admire the slightest detail.


    We talked about the flowers in my grandma¡¯s backyard. And he shared pictures in his home garden which I believe are much better than mine. There were lilies, anthurium, and some other unknown but beautiful flowers.


    Meanwhile, he added these new photos for his album that he had created on Google Photos. He had named the album as ¡®my bestie¡¯ and it left a small note which says ¡®I¡¯ll always be your bestie and thank you so much for everything.¡¯


    He appreciates everything about our friendship. I admire him for that. He tells me to appreciate everything we have in our lives before it¡¯s too late. He¡¯s so wise and I¡¯m proud to be his bestie. I never knew God had better plans for me, but it seems God always has a reason for whatever He does in our lives.


    While Pathum got busy with his online class, I made my way to slumber. My slight migraine put me to sleep the moment I laid my head on my pillow. Part of me criticised myself for sleeping too early and leaving him alone, but the other part of me was supported by Pathum himself. He made sure I didn¡¯t feel guilty for sleeping. He always supports me in whatever way he can.


    When I woke up, I was greeted with many messages from him and also saw he had added a few new pictures to our bestie album on Google Photos.


    Scarlet: OMG you left me so many messages sweetie. Good morning!


    Pathum: Good morning bestie! How did you sleep?


    Scarlet: I slept okay. What about you?


    Pathum: I¡¯m good. And it¡¯s good to see you finally awake. Guess what? It¡¯s New Year¡¯s for us.


    Scarlet: New Year¡¯s?


    Pathum: Yes, it''s a new year for us Sri Lankans.


    Scarlet: Umm.. Is this supposed to be a joke or are you serious?


    Pathum: It hurts me that you think it''s a joke.


    Scarlet: Gosh sweetie. I¡¯m sorry, don¡¯t be offended.


    Pathum: I know why you¡¯re confused. You might be wondering how could there be a new year in the middle of the year right?


    Scarlet: I¡¯m sorry, no offence. But yeah I am.


    Pathum: Give me a minute and I¡¯ll explain everything.

 Chapter 21B

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    Pathum: So today is the 14th of April, and it¡¯s a new year for us, the Sinhalese and Tamil peoples. My mother tongue is Sinhala so I¡®m Sinhalese. In fact, the majority of Sri Lankans are Sinhalese, and the minority is occupied by Tamils, Muslims, Christians, and Burghers etc. You get the point.


    So from a religious perspective, Buddhists and Hindu people celebrate the new year in April, and even though it isn¡¯t in their religion Muslims and Christians celebrate it too. And we have some customs in our new year which I¡¯ll get into soon.


    So the customs are pretty nice.


    For example we have a time annotated to eat the sweet meals we prepared. Then there are fireworks and celebrations. Also there are customs where oil is applied on our heads and finally we visit our neighbours and relatives.


    As children we receive money or other gifts. I don¡¯t receive much now since I¡®m eighteen but still anyone here who doesn¡¯t work is considered children. No, that¡¯s not how the majority work but still my family still treats me like a kid. However, not every family treats their children that way okay?


    The thing is my family¡¯s good and I¡¯m lucky to have them. I shouldn¡¯t go without appreciating them for what they are.


    We also prepare a special kind of sweet for the new year as well. Then we play games in our village for which I NEVER PARTICIPATE, yes I don¡¯t go out to play with the external world. I¡¯m a very negative person but I don¡¯t need them. I have a bestie and that''s all I need. But yeah there are games organised as well where you can win prizes. These games are mostly held in temples or some other place where events could be held. They¡¯re fun, but I don¡¯t like them.


    Don¡¯t get me wrong, yes it''s fun to eat and play different games and stay with people but I never liked that idea. I don¡¯t like being with and interacting with many people. Being with my family is much better. I hope you understand now.


    Scarlet: How could I not understand when someone like you explained it? You explained everything so well. I do understand, so happy new year my boy!


    Pathum: Well thanks, my girl!


    Scarlet: So, what are you doing now?


    Pathum: Talking to my bestie!


    Scarlet: Aww sweetie!


    Pathum: Yep sweetie. I¡¯m glad that I¡¯m talking to you and most importantly I¡¯m grateful for the chance I got to be your bestie and enjoying the warmth and prosperous love I receive from you every day. So sweetie thank you so much for being in my life, I¡¯m forever grateful.


    Scarlet: I have to say the same for you. I¡¯m grateful to have a boy like you in my life. I¡¯ve had boys and girls in my life but none of them were able to make the impact you¡¯ve made. You¡¯re a great blessing from God and I¡¯m forever grateful to have you as my bestie and have your company.


    Pathum: Aww sweet!


    Scarlet: So are there events today?


    Pathum: Yeah, but I¡¯m not going to them.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, you shouldn''t stay home alone.


    Pathum: I¡¯m with you. That¡¯s enough for me.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re something cute.


    Pathum: Sweetie, you¡®re definitely something cute, not me. You know people also play a sport similar to basketball. Wait not, not basketball,  baseball. People play it in a paddy field. It looks fun because there¡¯s water in the field and it''s not so dry. So injuries aren¡¯t severe but you¡¯ll still get wet.


    So they play this event between the two sides of the village. There¡¯s the left side of the village and right side separated by the paddy fields, so they play a few games between the two sides. You get it? And since our home is almost in the paddy fields we can watch the game from home. We shout and go wild.


    I guess your people would enjoy it since it¡¯s in the mud.


    One day when you¡¯re here we can play but I¡¯m not going to let you play with the boys. I¡¯m not letting any bastard touch you or talk to you. Oh that doesn''t mean you can¡¯t talk to them. There are some nice guys. So yeah. I mean you can play if you want to; I¡¯m not forcing you to be away from them. I¡¯m just being cautious or trying to protect you.


    Scarlet: You care about me don¡¯t you? You don¡¯t have to care about me sweetie. Just focus on yourself.


    Pathum: No, it¡¯s not going to work. I felt the presence of an angel within you and I¡¯d be a fool if I were to abandon someone like you. So sweetie I¡¯ll always care about you.


    Scarlet: I know. I¡¯m grateful for that.


    Pathum: And hey it''s not because you¡¯re an angel that I care okay? Angel or human. I still care about you. Keep it in mind.


    Scarlet: I know that.


    Pathum: Isn¡¯t it amazing that we met? All because of this coronavirus and the lockdown. How¡¯s the lockdown in America? It seems the lockdown would remain for a few months in Sri Lanka.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Scarlet: They¡¯ll probably get rid of it next month, but I¡¯m not sure.


    Pathum: Don''t feel offended but while the whole world got hurt by this corona thing you and I met and had the chance to talk all day. It¡¯s unbelievable.


    Scarlet: It sure is unbelievable.


    Pathum: Do you guys have any festivals like Halloween? Christmas?


    Scarlet : We don¡¯t do big fancy events around here sweetie. We do it as one event and that¡¯s all. Nothing more than that.


    Pathum: No more celebrations and lust entertainment right? I enjoy such company. I don¡¯t like fancy stuff as well. I just want to stay with my family. Less people and good nature is all I need sometimes.


    Scarlet: God made the right match from heaven. I couldn¡¯t be happier about your nature, I love it.


    Thank you my Lord. I sent a silent prayer.


    Pathum: Do you like parties?


    Scarlet: Let me guess, you don''t like parties do you?


    Pathum: Only unless it''s mine or my family.


    Scarlet: Me too


    Pathum: You know they say opposites attract but we both are similar and yet attached to each other.


    Scarlet: I was thinking the same thing.


    Pathum: Bestie trend!


    Scarlet: You know there is an app that you must download that will help you get rid of your shyness from the camera, it¡¯s called marco polo. It¡¯s a video recording app where you can deliver messages, you can basically record yourself and send it to your loved ones. You must try it, it¡¯ll help you.


    Pathum: I surely will try it.


    Scarlet: Go on and download it.


    Pathum: Already downloading.


    Scarlet: YIKES!


    Pathum: It has a million downloads, do you use this app often?


    Scarlet: Yes not all the time but usually visit it like 3 or four times a day.


    Pathum: Wow! You have many friends don¡¯t you? Unlike me. But that''s okay. I¡¯m not sad.


    Scarlet: No, I don''t have that many friends sweetie. Even though I visit the app sometimes, because I have some new messages it¡¯s kind of like unconscious effort and don''t worry I don¡¯t have that many friends. And even if I did, you¡¯re my bestie. Nobody will take your place. Remember that hunny.


    Pathum: Aww I¡¯ll remember that ma¡¯am. Hey, the app is downloaded. I¡¯ll check it now.


    With that message he disappeared. I waited until he came back.


    Pathum: I made an account. Umm..


    Scarlet: That¡¯s good. Let me add you.


    Within five minutes I was able to match our contact and send my first polo to him. Even though I send him a video polo he didn''t respond with a video instead he sent me a text polo. Which frustrated me so I urged him to send me a polo in which his face is visible but he just struggled to complete my desires.


    Even though I begged him to do so he was still hesitant. And finally after many pleadings he sent one, it was cute, he started apologising for his behaviour but I couldn¡¯t listen to it fully, he deleted it.


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry


    Scarlet: Why the hell-


    Pathum: That was so humiliating. That¡¯s why I deleted it.


    Scarlet: Am I a humiliation for you? Huh?!


    Pathum: No, I wasn''t talking about you. I was saying I was.


    Scarlet: Shut up!


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry!


    Scarlet: I won¡¯t forgive you until you send me a polo again. I want to see your face, no hiding or deleting afterwards. Okay?


    Pathum: But I look so embarrassed. My voice on top of it is super ugly and my face too.


    Scarlet: I¡¯ll consider forgiving you if you send me the polo now.


    Pathum: I¡¯ll send it some other day. It¡¯s night here, not the ideal situation to take a video.


    Scarlet: Not my problem. Your time starts now.


    Pathum: Please let''s just talk. That¡¯s better, my voice and face is a ugly mixture. How do you even tolerate them? Ugh I¡¯m a mess.


    He sure is, and I¡®m going to fix him.


    Scarlet: Tick tock your clock is ticking.


    Pathum: Please some other day? Please


    Scarlet: Nine minutes left. If you send one within that time period, I¡¯ll consider an apology or else no talking for the whole day. Bye see you soon! Or never.


    Pathum: Scarlet, don¡¯t do this. I¡¯m no good at this stuff that''s why I¡¯m hesitant. Please don¡¯t do this. In a few hours I¡¯ll be asleep so please.


    His self esteem and self appreciation is very low and I have to take the responsibility to fix it, yep ma¡¯am I am on it. So let''s see, let¡¯s wait until he sends me a polo. He must send me one or else no talking. It''s for his own good.


    Pathum: Hello? Scarlet? Why aren''t you talking? Please stop this. Let¡¯s talk¡­. Hello? I love you. Don¡¯t you know that? Besties are supposed to be together.


    He kept sending me messages. But I didn¡¯t respond. I waited, hoping he would change his mind and send me a polo. Eventually, I closed the phone and went outside to have sunlight. While my mind still revolved around him I played with Mazie, I did not get the chance to play with her often because of Pathum. He has occupied that time.


    After thirty minutes I came back and opened the phone and there was a new polo. Excited, I clicked the app and it turned out it was a text pool saying sorry. I opened Google Hangouts and there was a load of messages. But there wasn¡¯t a single video of him.


    Oh, Pathum, don¡¯t do this. I can¡¯t hurt you like this, but there¡¯s no other way other than this to make a better version of you. You have to get rid of that shyness and low self esteem.


    Scarlet: I won¡¯t talk to you until you send me a video polo. Bye!


    He read the message but there was no response. He then kept typing something but suddenly went offline. I waited but he never came back nor did I get a polo so I turned the screen off and kept the phone beside the bed and went to have my breakfast.


    I¡¯m so disappointed. Was the only thought running through my head.

 Chapter 22

    Pathum POV


    She is bloody stubborn. I know she¡¯s probably doing this to help me improve my low self esteem but heck I look hella ugly when I do a video, Let alone my ugly voice.


    Ugh!


    Nevertheless, I recorded myself apologising for my stupid behaviour and for sending the polo late. I then proceeded to send it, but she didn''t respond so I sent a few messages in Google Hangouts and it appeared she was last online a few minutes ago. And it was getting late but she didn''t come online so I took my dinner. Once dinner was finished I came to see no notification from her. So I decided to brush my teeths and wash myself for the night.


    Yep once I come from the wash it''s time to go to bed. By wash I mean washing my face ,legs, and hands. Washed everything except my head and butt. I usually do that before bed. Not a bath or a body wash. But if we had bathrooms then I might have gone for a bath before bed but I am out of luck. So I had to settle for my underprivileged poor life.


    Gosh! I am totally kidding. My life is a million times better compared to many people who can¡¯t even access basic necessities. I am grateful for things I have no matter what.


    Within ten minutes I was done.


    ¡°Are you going to sleep ?¡¯¡¯, Mom asked me while I placed my toothbrush and kept the soap over the cupboard.


    ¡°Yes I am going to sleep now.¡±


    ¡° Or chat with her till late at night?¡±


    I didn''t know how to respond to that. She was right, but maybe things are different today.


    Scarlet seems to be mad at me even after I convinced myself to send a polo. Specifically, 45 minutes later from the anointed time. But still, I sent jer one, didn''t I?


    You did


    It seems like mom got frustrated by my silence, so she repeated the question.


    But I shook my head and hummed in response which frustrated her further.


    ¡°You talk to her all day, why talk to her at night as well?Do you get to talk to her at night as well? Don''t you have studies huh? I rarely see you studying but texting her or either too attached to your phone. You ain''t going to pass this exam if you keep this attitude son.¡± she said.


    I can''t disagree with her, she was right. I cannot go further with less time management and poor planning. I gotta do something to end up in a better position.


    ¡°I will try to study tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°That day won¡¯t come if you are stuck on your phone with her, don''t get mad at me. It''s okay to talk to her but it''s useless to ignore your studies. You know do you always want to talk to her but not meet her? Imagine what it''s like to have her in person , so if you need to achieve that dream you better study the butt off or else at the end of two or few years she will be gone to somebody else¡¯s hand.¡±


    What she said was true, but I don''t mind losing her for some other guy. She is my bestie not my girlfriend, but of course losing her nevertheless hurts. But she is not my girlfriend no matter what mom or anyone says.


    But I didn''t say anything in defense. I let silence wrap us. Surprisingly my ugly mouth handled the situation like a boss. Most of the time when I let my mouth handle the situation, they end up piercing a deep hole in the victim¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Okay sleep well son, go to sleep and talk to her tomorrow.¡± she said and left .


    Even Though mom told me to talk to her tomorrow it''s not like I would talk to her now, cause she is nowhere. She''s offline and probably mad. But I hope she cools down and talks to me soon.


    I got to bed and still got no message from her. I waited until she came back but the slumber took control and put me to sleep.


    When I woke up, I saw mom with the morning tea. She was opening the window and the room was filled with bright rays of sun. It is always a wonderful experience when the room  is filled with morning mist and sun rays.


    After getting ready, and washing my face and mouth I drank the tea in a single gulp. I then unlocked my phone and switched data ON.


    And soon my phone flooded with notifications,And none of them didn''t belonged to her. Kidding!


    Of Course this is what I was expecting.


    Of Course she¡¯s the only one who cares about your existence, besides mom.


    Scarlet : Brat you were so cute in that video. And guess what, I am still mad and won''t accept your apology.


    Pathum : Oh for butt god sake accept my dang apology.


    Scarlet : Hehe, Nope. Cant!


    Pathum : I did everything you asked me to do! I know it was late but I convinced myself - And maybe still it was not enough¡­ I guess this means a goodbye¡­ goodbye miss scarlet¡­ Thank you for everything.


    Scarlet : OMG okay okay.


    Pathum : What in the butt!? Okay? You must be pleading with me now , Are you fine with me gone from this world?


    Scarlet : There would be no other devastating thing that could happen to me than losing you but I know from the bottom of my heart and my faith that you are destined with me forever so I have not a shadow of a doubt you wouldn''t leave. You can''t leave me, you are wrapped around my pinky .


    Pathum : maybe it''s the thumb


    Scarlet : Oh yeah exactly!


    Pathum : You have so much faith in our friendship but weren''t you in a bad mood yesterday ?


    Scarlet : To make you a better version I would do anything if that is being mad at you the whole day I will still do it.


    Pathum : You are such a bestie.


    Scarlet : Guess what I showed your video to mom and sis. Do you know what happened?


    Pathum : They puked?


    Scarlet : Quite the opposite. They loved it.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Pathum : Promise me that you are not lying. Well I know you are not lying but promise me that you aint saying good about me just to make me feel okay.


    Scarlet : Promise sweetie!


    Pathum : Honestly I just can''t believe it. I felt like I was just stupid and ugly. But you guys see the exact opposite of what I see. That''s unbelievable. Thank you so much for making me feel elevated above my negative self. Thank you sweetie and your family. I am grateful to have met you and your family.


    Scarlet : Of course hunny.


    Pathum : Are you going to sleep now?


    Scarlet : NOPe. don''t think you could get rid of me that soon.


    Pathum : Hehehehe


    Scarlet : Brat!


    Pathum : shall we work on chapter two? Or work on your book?


    Scarlet : Whatever you want.


    Pathum : Let us work on your book, their love is wonderful hehe. I just enjoy reading your characters. They are well built. I meant you have done a fascinating job in making them stand out. I wish I could write characters like you do. It will surely stick people on to the book. So let''s stop talking and go back to work.


    I exited Google Hangout and opened Google Doc. We worked on chapter twenty of her book. It was wonderful to work on her. I love helping her and encouraging her to write better stories. Just like she motivates me to write better stories I do the same for her, that''s what besties do. We help each other and stand against any force who are against us.


    While she was writing the chapter I was correcting the grammar and punctuations. I know I am not better at english than her but still I kept the place neat. It isn''t that she isnt neat its just i do my job and she do hers. But eventually she fell asleep while we were working on the last scene. So once I finished working on chapter twenty of her book , I also worked on her previous chapters and made them ready to be published. While she was in her dreamland and having the sleep she deserves I worked both on mine and her chapters hoping that I could complete my mission when she wakes up so that she would be delighted by the morning gift.


    Once I finished working on the novels I walked outside to work on the garden. I called grandma to help me with the plantation. Yesterday I soaked bean seeds in water so that we could plant them today. I cut some branches because beans are climbers so they need something to anchor themselves. While I dug holes to plant the branches I cut, grandma was helping me with planting them. We finished work in a few hours.


    Three days later I started watering the newly planted seeds. Small plants have risen from the seeds that we planted . While also recording a Marco polo video I sent them to scarlet . sharing is caring. Working on the garden is fun and showing it to my bestie is infinitely better.


    Once I finished breakfast, scarlet went to sleep and I focused on my biology notes.


    That''s when Mom entered the room.


    ¡°Hey Son, are you studying ?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Why?¡±


    ¡°Can you go give this rice packet to Nirmala aunty.¡±


    ¡°Why can''t you go ?¡± I replied ignoring the annoyance in my tone.


    ¡°It won''t hurt you to walk a few steps. You don''t need to do anything, just give this rice packet and come back.¡±


    ¡°Later, later!¡± I replied. Nirmala aunty is our neighbour and her husband is in the hospital due to corona. He is covid infected. And since it''s our responsibility to help them and lift them.


    ¡°Go now, eating this later wouldn''t do any good.¡± Mom said with her hands on her hips.


    ¡°Ugh please don''t disturb me.¡± I said not looking at her


    I will do it mom but give me a break.


    Comeon dont break her heart just go do it.


    ¡°You never do any favour for me, always busy. I will deliver this by myself .¡± she stormed out of the room before I could speak.


    ¡°Fine! Give it to me, I¡¯ll go Mom.¡± I said getting up from my seat but mom didn''t respond. So I walked up to her room and she was gone already. I came outside to see mom walking towards their house while I stared in that direction and stood there.


    Go chase her, go do it, why can''t you do it for mom? She just asked you to deliver a package and you couldn''t do it? You are so useless, do you know that?


    I am no use, of course I know I ain''t anything but a loser. I shouldn''t have said no to mom. I didn''t say I couldn''t, I was only a little hesitant. That doesn''t mean I refused to go but whatever she is gone now. So I got back to my room and tried to focus on my studies but it didn''t work out as much as I planned, my mind was easily drifting away to what happened in the morning with mom. Even after four hours she was nowhere to be seen so I picked my phone and called her and she informed me she is helping Nirmala aunty to clean her house. And she told me to have my lunch and that she would get late  even when Nirmala aunty told mom to go home.


    She''s there because of you. You should have gone instead of being lazy.


    I wasn''t lazy, but I was just hesitant. Do we call that lazy ? If it¡¯s so, then be it. Am I offended ? I don''t think so. I have to accept I am lazy and I need to eliminate the weak characteristics in order to succeed and live a decent life.


    She will be home in a few hours. But shouldn''t I have helped her by delivering the package? Now it''s over Pathum. Shut it and cut it out.


    Even Though I did everything to forget what happened in the morning, I just couldn''t.


    Before I bath I had a simple chit chat with grandma


    ¡° What is she doing this late?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know. She called me and told me she will be late.¡± I said scratching my head.


    She turned her gaze at our neighbour''s house and replied.


    ¡°Should I go and see whether she is okay?¡±


    ¡°Oh no need. She will come soon. She said she is helping Nirmala aunty with her household.¡±


    I said and walked towards the well.


    ¡°Your mother is crazy , she was supposed to give the package and come back soon, gosh she is wasting her time.¡± I could feel the annoyance in her tone. But I stayed in meek cause silence is the only choice I got to do. If I had delivered the package none of this would happen. Its all my fault.


    Within fifteen minutes I came back from bath. I couldnt bath peacefully as I was worried about mom. So I dressed quickly and made my way to their house and thats when a police jeep came across me and stopped and the officers yelled at me not to come closer to them.


    I stood where I was . the officer asked me if I visited the neighbours house and I shook my head in response. Panicked, I told the officer I came to see mom. She had been there since morning .


    The officer looked at me and then exchange glances with the fellow officer and said something that shook my heart.


    ¡°The lady of this house is infected with Coronavirus and she got a positive to the test, so she is admitted to hospital.¡± His voice was rough. I didn''t see any kind tone in that voice.


    ¡°Where¡¯s my mother?¡± I asked, trying to step into the house. They yelled and told me to stop walking. Like I am entering into a zone I shouldn''t. Are they this scared of a simple virus? Gosh they don''t have to yell, they could simply tell me to stop walking , why should they yell?


    The people in this country are something aren''t they?


    Tears started to fill my eyes as I dialed moms number, her phone fortunately rang. But she didn''t answer. I took about 5 calls straight away but still she did not answered.


    ¡°Your mother was supposed to be in her house, not loitering and gossiping with neighbours.¡± a fat officer laughed at me.


    That fat fucking looser,


    Calm down. Don''t take it personally, it''s their nature. These people are wicked and stupid, don''t waste your energy fighting with these fools.


    ¡°She came there to deliver a rice package .¡± I yelled and every single officer turned at me with amusement etched in their face.


    ¡°Oh we can see that. It took her hours to go back home, oh please shut up. These women, they never listen to us. Stubborn and stupid. The media told them to stay at home but they cant simply do that cause they got gossiping to do and guess where they end up?¡± the fat officer continued to say, which boiled my blood. Was he saying it for me or for himself? Whatever the only ones who nod in agreement to his idea were the officers surrounding him, I saw no truth in his words, he is delusional and there was no point arguing with such people. Nevertheless, he continued to mock women and also went on to mock my mom.


    I wanted to yell back and tell him to shut up but its not the right thing to do now. Not the wise thing to do despite being not the right thing.


    The officers told us to go back to our houses and never visit Nirmala aunty¡¯s house until further notice.


    Once I came back home , I briefly wrote everything to Scarlet. With tears in my eyes and sweat in my trembling hands I wrote to her.


    What happened to mom? Did they take her to the hospital? Why is mom not answering her phone?


    Many questions pounded in my head, and there was no answer to my pleading questions.

 Trigger Warning

    Hello there!


    I got something important to say, something that I might had to say a long time ago or at the beginning of the book, but here we are. So this chapter is basically a warning about sensitive content which some readers may find disturbing.


    So this book ''So far away'' contains these themes and topics,


    1. Mental health & mental disorders


    2. Young adult relationships


    3. Country culture & lifestyle


    4. Sri lankan culture & lifestyle


    5. Characteristics, Behaviour , Challenges and Hurdles of a good boy/man & good girl/woman.6. Weak features of the society.


    7. Toxic/weak characteristics of a boy/girl.


    8. Dreams and ambitious individuals.


    9. The nature of impermanence.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    10. Difference of a good boy and an average boys.


    11. Loneliness & Isolation.


    And many more topics will be discussed and portrayed through each character and events. And some of the topics may have already been displayed in early chapters and some other topics will be showed in the upcoming chapters.


    Also here is the Warning. There will be sensitive content  or content which some readers find disturbing such as Abusive nature , Strong language, Anger issues, MenTal disorders , lack of communications and etc...


    So yes these characters have some issues whereas some suffer from certain Mental disorders and those charactertics will be displayed but there''s no direct implications until later they discover those problems.


    So Pathum, you may love him or hate him in my opinion is a good boy and one of the main things I am trying to show in this book is the hurdles a good boy has to go through in the mix of other boys or the society. I am not saying he is a perfect person, well he is not he has some weak characteristics or toxic features which is harmful both to him and others around him and those things will be discussed in future chapters.


    So for example I wanted to show how difficult the life of a good boy is, like how he is bullied and harrased by other boys just because he is different or choose to be unlike them.


    Look there''s many things I haven''t mentioned but those topics will be discussed. I guess you get the idea and the reason behind this chapter. It is to acknowledge the reader of the possible outcomes and things of this book.


    Thank you for reading!


    Have a nice day!

 Chapter 23

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    Pathum: I think she was admitted to the hospital along with Nirmala. And she is in the hospital battling for her life because of me. I freaking should have visited and delivered the package and none of this would have happened. It''s my dang fault. My freaking fault. But why on earth isn''t she answering her phone? I don''t understand, Scarlet.


    Scarlet: It is not your fault that mom is missing, she would say the same sweetie. Please understand it is not your fault. She will be alright.


    Pathum: It is definitely my fault. I refused to go when she told me to go deliver the food package and then she got into their house and ended up in a conversation and ended up in the hospital. It is always my fault. It will always be in my memory. I should learn to understand that it is my fault, scarlet whatever you say it is my fault, I will never forgive myself.


    Scarlet: Sweetie calm down and let¡¯s try to see the positive aspects of this incident.


    Pathum: It has been two days since she was admitted to the hospital, I guess she was admitted because there''s no other assumption I could jump to. I mean the officers told us they admitted the people in that house to the hospital so mom must be there. She hasn''t answered any of my calls. But what if something went wrong and something bad happened to her? Please I am scared.


    Scarlet: Pathum, sweetie listen the best we can do is wait and pray. Praying will help you reach the hands of God and He will help you understand that there is nothing more powerful than the faith of God and the miracles he can do. I kindly ask you to follow my voice and pray to God, there is nothing to be scared about. Just put your hands together and pray sweetie, pray and He will hear you and will answer your prayers.


    Pathum : Please I am scared, please tell god to make mom answer her call. Please.


    I tried praying with every possible way I knew but Scarlet helped me with the practise I couldn¡¯t help myself but pray. I kept praying for hours that mom would be okay and she would come back to us soon or answer the phone or something. I wished she would do something and come to us, but she didn¡¯t and that broke me, I should have done better. It should have been me, I am a shitty bastard, I willingly sent my mom to ¡­ to.. ..to death.. it is always my fault I should be damned.


    I am so scared please God help my mom get well help her be okay. Please bring her back to me and I will do anything You tell me. I will always obey Mom¡¯s advice, I never meant to disobey her orders. I was a lazy piece of shit, ugh I hate me. Please God I am not a christian but please listen to me, I can¡¯t live without mom and I wouldnt live single second without her. So please protect her, I will do anything in return. Please god help me.


    It was getting darker and mom wasn''t answering her phone. I don''t know why but I made many calls and there was only ringing but no answering, what have I done? I should go to Hell for this. It is my fault mom is in the hospital. If something happens to mom I will never forgive myself. I would never forgive myself


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    She is there because of you, because you refuse to do the things you were supposed to do. She is there suffering and battling with her life all because of her weak son. Her beloved great son who pushed his mother to the depths of hell because he is lazy. How pathetic would it be to have a son like you, Pathum.


    Pathum: Scarlet, please help me. I¡¯m scared. Please help me. It is night, almost midnight and there was not a single call from my mother. I am very scared. Please what can I do? I don¡¯t know any officer whom I could call or ask about patients. There haven''t been any deaths in Sri Lanka yet but I am very scared. Will mom be alright?


    Scarlet: We kept you in our prayers and soon the Lord will help your mom. Sweetie take it out of your head it is a mental prison. You are suffering more just because you are trapped inside that head. Sneak out and be free.


    Pathum: But she hasn¡¯t answered any calls. Why do you think that is?


    Scarlet: Maybe they don¡¯t allow patients to take calls, calm down. Your mom will be here tomorrow or in a few days. I promise.


    Pathum: Please I can''t sleep. These thoughts are running in my head for too long. Please help me with these thoughts. How can I help myself? Will mom be alright?


    It is your fault. What would you do if she is dea-


    Shut it! Shut it !


    Scarlet: Sweetie please forget it, your mom will be fine and you will be okay as well.


    Yes I would like to believe what she said. I too want mom to be alright. I don''t want anything bad to happen to mom, but why doesn''t she answer her phone? That makes me so scared. If I had listened to mom. Gosh it is pointless worrying about the past. We should focus on the present moment and build a better future.


    I am being so philosophical but yet I can''t seem to calm down. I mean how can I when my mother is in the hospital in exchange for me, how does that make me feel? I feel so useless and worthless, that makes me feel like I am the worst son she ever had. It makes me feel like I have no purpose in life and that I deserve to die in a gutter. Where else but a deadly gutter, why couldn¡¯t I step up and tell mom to wait and do that piece of work by myself?


    Well even then I don¡¯t know I can''t handle these thoughts I need Scarlet. I can''t deal with these things. These thoughts are scary and I don''t want them to be true. I want them gone. Gone out of my head. Why are they hanging around me? What''s the point in these thoughts? Why can''t they let me be free? What the heck did I do myself? Why is my mind disturbing my peace?


    So many questions but none seem to have answers.


    What are you going to do when she is gone? Can you live without her? Can you love without her? You think Scarlet will remain with you? Nope she is going to leave you too. You are going to loose everything and you will forever be alone. You are a looser destined to be alone and die lonely.


    I grabbed my phone and decided to call mom, which I did and her phone began to ring but still no one answered. After waiting for another fifteen minutes, I decided to ring her phone again and suddenly someone answered and it shocked me to the core. I froze at the words at the receiving end.


    Oh God why? Please it can''t be. Does this mean mom¡¯s in danger or something? Please mom answer. Come back to me soon. Please God why do I have to go through this.


    Could that voice be a mistake? I dont know, so I rang again and the same voice repeated the same thing it did before. My phone fell from my trembling hands.

 Chapter 24

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    Gosh I need to calm him down. What should I say? I just couldn''t find the right set of words to help him settle for the moment.


    Please Lord aid us with your kindness. Please seek him and help him uncover his fears. Please Lord help him.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, maybe your mother¡¯s phone battery is dead.


    Pathum: Yes, that¡¯s probably it. The voice told me I couldn''t reach the number I¡¯m calling since the number is out of range or shut down.


    Scarlet: Exactly. That''s what the voice said. So don''t panic.


    Pathum: But sweetie, I¡¯m scared.


    Scarlet: I know hunny, but remember that your mom didn''t take the charger with her. But don¡¯t worry, she will be fine, don''t worry.


    Pathum: I can''t live with this voice inside my head.


    Please god, please take those thoughts away. Free him.


    Scarlet: Listen to me, I can help you.


    Pathum: Please do it because I can''t do this anymore. I even vomited in the morning, and they said it''s gastritis because I have not eaten enough. I can''t eat no matter how hard I try. I don''t taste anything and since mom is missing I can''t eat. I don''t want to. Even if I force myself to eat, I can''t. Please help me. I am sorry in advanced for being a cry baby but Scarlet I need your help. Please ask god to save her, that¡¯s all I need. I will do anything in return. Please, I would do anything.


    Scarlet: Sweetie calm down. You need to calm down first if you seek his help. Your mom is perfectly fine and her phone just died so you don''t need to panic and don¡¯t listen to that internal voice, trust me. You trust your bestie don''t you? Just keep that faith high on the ground. Just trust in me I can promise everything will be okay. I told God everything he will answer our prayers soon and you shall be granted your freedom.


    Pathum: Why isn''t she answering her phone and what happened? I know it''s dead but I am so scared that something might happen to her. If something happens to her, trust me I won''t live any longer. I don''t want to live any longer without her in my life. Especially when it¡¯s all my fault.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t you want to live for me? Don¡¯t leave me alone in this wicked world. We are besties, we stick together and fight every hurdle together. Abandoning me is not so nice of you.


    Pathum: Sweetie, I didn''t mean something like that.


    Scarlet: Then tell me what you mean. Huh! If you didn''t mean something like that then explain to be so lucidly the hidden meaning of your words.


    Pathum: Please understand, I¡¯m very scared. Mom didn''t even call us since she left or there wasn''t any news regarding her. How are we going to figure it out? I don¡¯t even know whether she is .. umm.. Alive. Please for God¡¯s sake help her, please. Why isn¡¯t she talking to us? She could at least tell us something. Why didn¡¯t she informed anything to us? All she have to do is answer her phone.


    Scarlet: Sweetie I told you before, don''t panic. It will be okay and you will be okay if you stop stressing so much. It¡¯s all in your head, don¡¯t panic and let that mind create chaos. Trust in God and seek Him for assurance he will help you get rid of those voices. Just believe Him and open to Him, trust me you will receive great relief in Him.


    Pathum: I¡¯m trying Scarlet, I¡¯m trying my best.


    Scarlet: Please go to sleep now okay? Trust in me. Can you do that for me?


    Pathum: I can try¡­


    Scarlet: Please Pathum. Do it for her, you can''t be weak when she needs you, be a strength to her not a weakness.


    Pathum: *crying*


    Scarlet: Please


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry, I don''t know what to say. Ugh, I want to die. It should have been me. I should have told mom I will go and delivered it but I didn''t and my mom had to pay for it. Why am I even alive? Please forget about me and live your life, stop thinking about me and leave me.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m not going to leave you so stop wishing for that. I¡¯m not going anywhere. Even if you want me to be gone I won''t go. I won''t leave you, you stupid brat.


    Pathum: Aww you¡¯re so cute arent you? I¡¯m sorry that I failed to appreciate you, it''s just that I¡¯m very scared she hasn''t called yet. The only news I received is that she was admitted to the hospital, so I¡¯m freaked out. Please don¡¯t judge me, I know you won¡¯t. I¡¯m sorry in advance for my absurd behaviour.


    Scarlet: I know. Don¡¯t explain to me, I think you need to take a deep breath and let go and let slumber take care of you. Please can you do it for me?


    Pathum: But will my mom be okay?


    Scarlet: Do you believe me?


    Pathum: Scarlet.


    Scarlet: Hush and tell me the answer. Is it yes or no?


    Pathum: Yes, I trust you.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Scarlet: Then trust me when I say that she will be okay and she will come back soon. So go to sleep.


    After several minutes of pleading, he finally went to sleep. I really need to do something when he wakes up. He is killing himself.


    I have to ask God to help him. I don''t understand why he thinks the way he does. There has to be something that¡¯s causing it. I¡¯m not accusing him or anything, he is my bestie and he¡¯s a healthy human being nothing other than that. But his mind is something we have to figure out a way to calm down. If he doesn¡¯t settle his mind, the limitations his mind is capable of is scary. So before praying, I had to tell my mom and sister about him, I had to describe what happened and where his mother is and what would happen to her.


    Surprisingly Mom and Abigail encouraged me to pray and they even volunteered to pray as well. Their kindness soothes my heartache.


    ¡°Why does he think like that? Does he usually get so out of control?¡± Mom asked me when we were having lunch.


    I shook my head in denial he never really showed this part of his personality, maybe he had trouble when we were dealing with Victor but still he was comfortable. This is so unlike him but at the same time it is like him.


    ¡°He often thinks very negatively about himself but I never saw this side of him until recently. Now, it seems like he struggles with certain things in life.¡±


    Mom nodded in response while Abigail listened to both of us without saying anything, she was just observing and absorbing but still was concerned. Part of me was relieved that they supported him in this difficult situation.


    ¡°Let''s keep praying then. The Lord surely has his reasons as to why Pathum¡¯s going through that. He has reason to put Pathum in that position. So, let¡¯s trust Him and encourage Pathum to be strong,¡± Mom said.


    We both nodded in response, and I smiled at Abigail who smiled back. It was good to see my sister supporting me and Pathum. I¡¯m glad my family likes him and wants to help him. I don''t know why but I feel so safe and secure. I hope he would feel the same way but for now, we¡¯ve got some work to do.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared that he might harm himself if something happens to his mother, and if that happens please I can''t guarantee myself,¡± I said, tears starting to stream down my face from my eyes and I looked down, trying to avoid my mother and Abigail¡¯s gazes.


    Honestly, I was expecting a hard slap from my mom but instead she hugged me.


    ¡°Scarlet, he¡¯ll be okay and we¡¯ll take care of him. You don''t have to do anything. Just stay in touch with him. Everything will be okay. Trust in the Lord.¡± She managed to smile. I found relief in her behaviour.


    Eight hours later he woke up, but he wasn''t in a good state. He was severely sick and scared. The only good news was that he slept well.


    Pathum: Where are you, Scarlet? I can''t deal with these things. Please talk to me.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, I¡¯m right here. Don¡¯t you worry about anything. Your mom is going to be alright, okay? She¡¯s perfectly fine, and she will always be fine. Nothing bad is going to happen to her, sweetie.


    Pathum: I wish I could believe you, but I¡¯m still very scared.


    Scarlet: Sweetie your mom is going to be alright, I can feel it. You¡¯re just overthinking. Like my sister. She has similar thinking patterns and gets herself in trouble. But on the inside there¡¯s nothing to worry about. It¡¯s just our capability to control our mind. If we are able to control our minds, most if not all of our problems will disappear. Sweetie trust me for once. I know you¡¯re feeling guilty but there is nothing you can gain from being guilty, imagine if you was the one who went to the hospital and it will be a similar situation like this. Your mom will freak out, blame herself for letting you go into that house, and people all around around her will blame her. Can you imagine the pain your mom would have to go through if it was you? Your mom will be depressed just like you, but there will be nobody to calm her down or comfort her, think about it Pathum think about it.


    Pathum: I understand sweetie but I am very scared.


    Scarlet: Imagine if it was you that went to the hospital. How on Earth would I know about it? I would have freak out and I will also had to live without you for days. Your mom sacrificed herself and it will all be well. So please forget about it and let¡¯s talk about something else okay?


    Pathum: But will she be okay? Will she come back home? Please say yes.


    Scarlet: Yes sweetie! Everything will be alright. Trust me!


    Pathum: Okay. It¡¯s just what if¡­


    Scarlet : No, no ¡®what ifs¡¯. Stop it right there.


    Pathum: I want to disappear.


    Scarlet: I understand that.


    Pathum: Is she okay? Can you ask God whether she is ok or not? Please pray that she will be fine. Please. Gosh am I acting like a girl or crying thing


    Scarlet: She¡¯s fine trust me. Please stop thinking. She is perfectly fine. And stop it, you are perfect the way you are and you aint no thing, you are a fine human being.


    Pathum: I tried to call her but still her phone is switched off.


    Scarlet: I know, you told me. But trust me she is fine, nothing is going to happen to her, and most importantly it is not your fault. So please Pathum trust me for once in your life.


    Pathum: I do trust you, if it weren''t for you I would be in a mental asylum. But sweetie, it''s just I am scared. If I had gone to the house when mom told me to none of this would¡¯ve happened right?


    Scarlet: No sweetie there will be further problems, if you had gone there and got infected, it would¡¯ve been transmitted to everyone in your household. It will only mean trouble. So whatever happened, happened for the best. Okay?


    Pathum: I see.


    Scarlet: Anyway¡­ Do you have any news regarding your neighbour?


    Pathum: I saw some officers visit today and I guess Nirmala¡¯s husband came home. But due to the rules, he¡¯s in quarantine where he¡¯s isolated for two weeks or something. If someone knows what happened to my mom, it¡¯s him. But we can¡¯t go meet him. We have his number so let¡¯s see will get some good news today.


    Scarlet: Let¡¯s hope!


    Pathum: I think you should go to sleep now.


    Scarlet: No, I¡¯m not leaving you.


    Pathum: Sweetie, I¡¯m fine. You helped me a lot, you above everyone needs some rest. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m not going to do anything stupid.


    Scarlet: Promise me that you won¡¯t do anything stupid.


    Pathum: I promise sweetie, now go to sleep.


    After debating with each other for a few minutes I fell into slumber. I woke up when Mazie was licking my face. It¡¯s eight already. I had unfortunately overslept. Grabbing my phone, I outright opened the Hangouts app and there was a message from Pathum.


    Pathum: Oh, I¡¯m so glad that you woke up.


    Scarlet: Did your neighbor call?


    Pathum: Yes, he did sweetie.


    Scarlet: Did he have any news about your mom?


    Pathum: Yes sweetie *Smiley face*


    Scarlet : You seem happy. Does this mean she¡®s safe?


    Pathum: Hehehe


    Scarlet: Come on tell me!

 Chapter 25A

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    I¡¯m so relieved, my mom¡¯s going to come home! Isn''t that what I dreamt of since she left?


    But she still suffered because you refused to go to the neighbours¡¯ house to deliver her food so don¡¯t forget it¡¯s still your fault that she got sick.


    I am not denying my existence, you bloody voice, so shut up.


    Pathum: He said my mom will come home soon.


    Scarlet: Oh, good, we told you she will be fine. Now you can relax, you stressed too much because of this incident. Just breathe and pray for a healthy mind.


    Pathum: Yes but there¡¯s a problem.


    Scarlet: What¡¯s that?


    Pathum: The officer said if she got sick she might have to stay longer at the hospital.


    Scarlet: Pathum, she¡¯s fine. Don''t worry about it any longer. You¡¯re letting your mind control you.


    Pathum: I know, but I¡¯m scared. What if something happens to mom? You know anything could happen right? I know it¡¯s just my thinking but what if..


    Scarlet: Don''t let the mind win. It''s just trying to sabotage you. Trust in God you¡¯ll have peace and most importantly there¡¯s no what if situations. Please trust your bestie and forget about it, your mom is healthy and safe and that¡¯s all that matters.


    Pathum: Yes, let''s be happy for now.


    Scarlet: Exactly. Good boy.


    Pathum: Thank you for being with me during this difficult time and for supporting me. It means more than you can understand. I¡¯m sorry for my stupid behavior, for repeating things, and acting so childish, please understand that I have no control over myself when I panic. I go crazy and I cannot fight those demons alone.


    Scarlet: Of course. I will always be here for you, so don''t ever doubt it.


    Pathum: I won''t ever doubt it. Thank you.


    Scarlet: You¡¯re welcome, hunny.


    Pathum: I almost went crazy but thanks to you, I survived.


    Scarlet: As long as I¡¯m here, I¡¯ll never allow that to happen. Remember that sweetie.


    Pathum: Great. But why do you care about me? You can forget about me, go out there, and find someone better than me.


    Scarlet: But I didn¡¯t choose, my heart did. God placed you in my life because He knew something that I didn¡¯t. He has plans for you and me. He knows the importance of your life to me. I won¡¯t ever forget someone like you. I¡¯ve never had someone like you in my life and I won''t ever meet someone like you again so it doesn¡¯t matter what you go through. I¡¯ll always be there for you. To help you, aid you, lift you, and to empower you. I¡¯ll always be there for you. Remember that sweetie. Don¡¯t ever forget that.


    Pathum: Aww *crying*


    Scarlet: You¡¯re adorable. Why say that in the middle of something serious because you often degrade your inner and outer beauty. I¡¯m not going to sit here and let you hurt yourself. Remember wherever you go, I¡¯ll be there for you and just when you need someone to lift you, I will be grateful to lend you a hand and uplift you into greater glory. Step by step we¡¯ll build the empire of our bond.


    Remember sweetie when you became my bestie, there was no other greater feeling than that, I felt so secure in your presence. I wouldn''t want to wake up to not be in that presence. I will always do everything in my power to make your dreams become reality.


    I know you have a dream to become a doctor but also don¡¯t forget that you have a talent in writing. However, you allow your fear of failure and criticism to rule you. But I know you¡¯re going to be a great writer one day because whenever I¡¯m reading your book, I feel some other great force within those pages. I wouldn¡¯t want to miss how it would feel to have a book written by you, it¡¯ll be an excellence beyond any forgery. Take these words into your heart and pin them in your deepest layer because this poetry comes from the bottom of my heart.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Pathum: Thank you so much for your kind words. Are you sure that you want to stay with me nevertheless of my issues? I can¡¯t even handle a simple thought. I freaked out and almost took my life blaming myself. But still you choose to be with me? I just can¡¯t believe it. I wouldn¡¯t want to believe it. I¡¯m weak and still you think you deserve me? I don¡¯t understand it. It''s just confusing as to why you would stick to a weak human like me, but one thing is certain and that¡¯s my bestie¡¯s heart. Her heart is beyond any value a man could state, I¡¯m so in love with her heart.


    Scarlet: Many things we don¡¯t understand have already been sorted out by God himself. He knows wherever his place is. He has witnessed the future where Pathum and Scarlet live together as two great soulmates. He knows things we don¡¯t. Trust in the Lord. He wil guide you and you won''t be disappointed.


    Pathum: Thank you and thank God!


    Scarlet: Only thank God, I deserve no praise.


    Pathum: I have to be rude now. Wherever I go I will always thank my bestie. She¡¯s above everyone remember that. Don¡¯t be offended. I wish I could have faith in the Lord as much as you do.. Even though I lack faith in Him, I still have a tremendous faith in my bestie. And I¡¯m not going anywhere without appreciating her for her well being. She did everything for me and I¡¯m going to appreciate her before I appreciate the Lord. Please don¡¯t get me wrong, I thank God for placing you in my life but I also appreciate the fact Scarlet is Scarlet. Here¡¯s the thing about it, I love Scarlet and I will protect her no matter what the circumstance and situation. I AM sorry. Again please don¡¯t be offended by what I say.


    I love you more than I love God but that doesn¡¯t mean I hate Him. I¡¯m just pleased to be in the presence of God but He is nothing more than God for me. To me the highest importance goes to my parents, grandma, and you. And after them, God is there. Please once again don¡¯t misunderstand me, I¡¯m not trying to say it¡¯s useless to put God as the main priority, I just mean that you¡¯re more special to me than God is. You have the first place in my heart and God is second place. I hope God forgives me for that and truly knows my intentions.


    Scarlet: I get you, and I¡¯m not offended. I appreciate your honesty and loyalty. I feel an immense presence in you, I¡¯m not lying but you are quite some human being. I see many great qualities in you.


    Pathum: I feel so relieved to know that, and knowing that my mom is somewhere safe.


    Scarlet: I was scared that I was going to lose you.


    Pathum: But you didn''t.


    Scarlet: Thanks to God, you have no idea how much I prayed for you.


    Pathum: I¡¯m so grateful to have you in my life.


    We talked for another hour, mostly about my mental health and that I need to be stronger for my mom. I also talked about how weak I have been and that I would not let the future be worse due to my lifeless effort and fragile mind.


    Once she was gone to church I arranged my books on my desk to study but I just couldn¡¯t get my mind in the right place. Memories of my mom flashed in my mind every time I was about to study. I couldn¡¯t stop the train of thoughts they kept coming to me.


    I grabbed my book and went outside hoping that some fresh air and sunlight would do some difference but unfortunately it didn¡¯t do anything.


    Finally after several minutes of trying to calm my thoughts and focus on my studies, I gave up. I got onto my bed and closed my eyes. My mind constantly threw daggers at me but I covered myself. They found their way into my heart and pierced to the deepest layers. They never bothered how deep they went their ultimate mission being hurting me.


    ¡°I hope she¡¯s safe out there,¡± my grandma said, walking into my room.


    She had made tea for the evening. Even though I couldn¡¯t taste the tea, I still accepted it because I didn¡¯t want to be rude. I already did the damage to my mom, I don¡¯t want to put my grandma in trouble, too.


    The tea was supposed to be hot but since grandma is old and always in a hurry, she doesn¡¯t boil water. She heats the water halfway before turning off the stove. She has her reasons, which are to save gas and time. Nevertheless it¡¯s drinkable.


    ¡°You know if she never stops by to have conversations with her then she would be fine, oh this stubborn child,¡± Grandma said, scratching her nose.


    It wasn¡¯t her fault.


    Please God don''t wake my mind.


    I let go of a sigh, which is the only thing I know to do.


    ¡°She will come home soon,¡± I said, even though I lack trust in my words, I wanted to sound convincing.


    ¡°I worshipped the gods, and they will protect her. Your mother is definitely out of harm¡¯s way, so stop thinking about her and focus on your studies,¡± she said touching my head.


    It was one of Grandma¡¯s usual gesture of blessing. I smiled at her and she turned to leave the room. Once my grandma was gone, I felt mom¡¯s overwhelming absence and it scared me. With Scarlet gone to church and mom at the hospital my life wasn¡¯t looking good.


    The next few days were spent doing nothing but waiting for my mom, and that''s when we got a call from the neighbour. Which broke hell loose and my mind went into panic mode.


    With shivering hands I managed to open Scarlet¡¯s chat.


    Scarlet: Sweetie calm down.


    Pathum: For God¡¯s sake, I can¡¯t calm down, it¡¯s my fault. I won''t live a single second if something happens to her.


    Scarlet: Pathum, freaking out would not help us so stop and tell me what the officer said this time.


    Pathum: I told you I felt something bad was about to happen. Please pray that my mom would be fine, pray this bad news is fake. I can''t do this. Please inform your mom and Abigail and tell them to pray as well, please¡­


    Scarlet: We¡¯ll pray, but tell me what did he say to you?


    Please God why is this happening to me?

 Chapter 25B

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    With many typos, I managed to deliver her the horrific news we got from the call.


    She, of course, responded with sympathy.


    Scarlet: Keep praying, sweetie. Nothing is going to happen to her. She will get well soon. It¡¯s just that people overreact, and it depends on the capability of their bodies. Your mom might be struggling, but trust me, she will survive and fight for you. She wouldn''t just go. She is there to lift you. So stop and quiet your mind; it makes things worse than they are. Don¡¯t let that mind own you.


    Pathum: I will, sweetie, and please pray too. Tell God to protect my mom, and I will do anything for you and God. Please help me, sweetie; they said Mom would come home if the treatment worked well for her. So please pray that it does. All I want is my mom back: healthy and happy.


    Scarlet: Of course. We have been praying, but I think you need some rest too. Your mom will be okay and return as soon as she gets well. You wasted a whole week worrying about things you shouldn¡¯t, so please understand God is always with you to help you cope with anything. But sweetie, I want you to know that you need rest. Your mom will be totally fine.


    Your neighbours managed to recover before they came home, and so will your mom. She is healthy and God is with her. Trust me and give my family and me time to pray. We will always pray for you and your mom, and God will protect you, sweetie.


    Pathum: I¡¯m scared. Will something happen to her?


    Scarlet: No! Don¡¯t be scared.


    Despite Scarlet¡¯s reassuring words, my thoughts were going haywire, and I was shaking in my seat. I wanted to believe her; I did, but part of me couldn¡¯t. I was so convinced my mom was going to die, and it was going to be because of me.


    She is going to die all because you refused to do what you were supposed to do. Your mother will be grateful for her son.


    Pathum: But look where it has gotten her. Who knows whether her case will get worse in the upcoming days? I¡¯m so scared, Scarlet!


    She¡¯s dying, all thanks to you, Pathum. My mind taunted me as Scarlet typed her next reply.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, calm down. Your mom will come home safely. Just trust me, like you did the past week.


    Last week is gone; don¡¯t listen to her. What if this week becomes the worst week of your life?


    Pathum: I¡¯m praying now that you help my mother. I will do anything in return.


    But will praying help? Amidst billions, will God spare His time for you, Pathum? That seems faintly true!


    Scarlet: God doesn¡¯t expect anything from you other than for you to be a good man.


    I¡¯m weak and a loser. I couldn¡¯t even help my mom with what she asked for.


    Pathum: I¡¯m still a boy, though.


    Scarlet: A good boy, then.


    Pathum: Are you sure my mom is alright? If she had gotten better, she would¡¯ve come home, but she stayed because her condition wasn¡¯t good. Oh, I¡¯m so scared for her. I shouldn''t have refused to go to the neighbours. Damn it, it¡¯s my fault.


    If I told Mom I would go, nothing would¡¯ve happened. She wouldn¡¯t be suffering in the hospital all alone. I am a piece of shit. A damn loser. It is my fault, mine, mine. Mine! I should be so ashamed.


    I looked over at my side table and saw a small, sharp knife, its silver blade shining in the room. The longer I stared at it, the more it seemed to call to me. I was very tempted to pick it up and use it on myself.


    Take that blade and use it. She wouldn¡¯t worry if you¡¯re gone. She won¡¯t be alive to witness any of this so go ahead no one¡¯s stopping you.


    Another beep from my phone caught my attention, and it was Scarlet¡¯s reply to my earlier comment.


    Scarlet: Please let it go. It happened, so there is no point in repeatedly blaming yourself. Just give up.


    Pathum: But she is my mother, and I can¡¯t give up. I would never give up.


    What if my mother never comes back home? How am I going to live without her?


    Do you want to live with that pain? You wouldn¡¯t have to go through that pain. You can avoid it, take that blade and do it.


    Scarlet: Gosh, I didn''t mean it like that. I suggested that you should give up the fact you¡¯re arguing. Stop blaming yourself and let that ego die. Don''t let your mind control you and abuse you. It¡¯s time you use the mind to show you the path of life. Do you hear me, sweetie?


    Ignoring her message, I grabbed the blade and placed it on top of my left hand while keeping my phone in my right. I put the blade tightly on my right hand. I forced the blade further. The pain started to arise, but there was no bleeding. I released the blade as it fell while leaving a mark on my hand.


    I grabbed the blade from the counter and placed it on top of my left hand while holding my phone in my right before switching. I pushed the tip of the knife into the palm of my hand. I winced but didn¡¯t see any blood. After a few minutes, I released it, allowing it to fall onto the floor. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    There was now a small cut where the knife had been. I took a picture and forwarded it to Scarlet. Once the picture was delivered, I grabbed the blade but stopped when my grandma came to the room with tea. Even though I didn¡¯t ask her to do it, she still made it.


    ¡°I hope your mother¡¯s fine, and someone¡¯s making her tea,¡± Grandma said once she gestured for me to take a biscuit from the tray she had brought into my room with her.


    ¡°Mmmm,¡± I mumbled.


    She leveled me with a stern glare.


    ¡°She will be fine. The doctors will take care of her,¡± she said firmly.


    I nodded in response before she continued with a slight smile on her dark, wrinkled face.


    ¡°Speaking of doctors, my dear little son, study well, okay? It¡¯s my dream to see you in a doctor¡¯s uniform. It¡¯s a great profession; saving lives is a noble deed, and you¡¯ll be blessed by the gods above.¡±


    ¡°I doubt I will live long to be a doctor,¡± I said gloomily.


    Her smile slowly faded, and she looked at me for a few seconds, her expression becoming confused as she stammered.


    ¡°Why do you¡­ why? Why won¡¯t you live that long?¡±


    I could tell by her expression and body language she was unsettled by what I said.


    ¡°Because what if mom dies?!¡± I jumped directly into the conversation rather than going around the topic of death. Startled by my speech, she covered her mouth with both hands.


    ¡°Little son, what are you saying? Nothing would happen to your mother.¡±


    I pressed on, insistent.


    ¡°But something is going to happen to her, and I am going to die.¡±


    She shook her head, disbelief and frustration crossing her features.


    ¡°Stop saying those things, boy, my heart might explode! She will come home, and all shall be good.¡± Her stern tone got to me through my haze of pain, and I nodded.


    ¡°I hope so!¡±


    Her features softened, and she took my hands in hers. When she spoke, I could see her eyes were filled with tears.


    ¡°Promise me that you¡¯ll study hard and never think of such nonsense again. Promise me, son.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s difficult to study for these things, Grandma,¡± I whined negatively.


    Why am I so negative?


    I thought as my grandma started shaking her head wildly, her features full of disapproval.


    ¡°You can do it little son, I know you can,¡± she replied, her eyes boring into mine and gripping my hands tightly. ¡°Now, start studying so you can make us proud.¡±


    I admired her faith in me. It made me proud to know there¡¯s a group of people who believe in me, but I also felt sad because I feel their expectations might perish due to my inability to withstand my own mind.


    My mind sometimes is a wicked place, it nurtures good as well as evil. Losing control of the mind is like being blessed with a ticket for heaven or hell, you never know the destination until it ends. That''s the nature of uncertainty.


    Once my grandma left, Scarlet replied to her messages.


    Scarlet: I can¡¯t believe you. How could you even think about it? I hate you. You¡¯re a liar!


    Pathum: I¡¯m sorry¡­. what? A liar?


    Scarlet: Yes. The picture proved it.


    Pathum: The one I just sent you?


    Scarlet: Yes.


    Pathum: How come I¡¯m a liar based on that picture?


    Scarlet: Because the picture shows exactly what you are, you only care about yourself. You don¡¯t care about me, your mom, or anyone else.


    Pathum: Are you joking now? I don''t have time for this. I¡¯m sorry, but my mind is not in the right place, and you¡¯re telling me I only care about myself. But that''s not true.


    Scarlet: If you ever cared about me, why would you ever try to harm yourself?


    Pathum: I didn¡¯t hurt you, I only tried to hurt myself. I¡¯ll take that pain.


    Scarlet: Oh, how sweet of you. Did you ever think about me or your mom? What do you think she would feel when she came home after defeating a virus to see that her son¡¯s gone? Can you imagine her pain? Did she survive that tragedy only to end up being alone in this world, to live without saying a proper goodbye to you? Did she go through childbirth for nothing? Stop being selfish, and for God¡¯s sake, have faith in God. He performs miracles for those individuals who are patient enough.


    Pathum: Scarlet, how do you know my mom was a teen when she had me?


    Scarlet: You¡¯re so heartless and dumb.


    Pathum: Ouch! I¡¯m offended. *Crying emoji*


    Scarlet: But actually I didn¡¯t know that. She looks young even now so it¡¯s not a miracle she was a teen mom.


    Pathum: I see¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but I love you. I don¡¯t know why you think I am a liar. I know I¡¯m not. I may be a little selfish, but you don¡¯t understand that I have an overthinking mind, and it¡¯s tough to live with it. So, I¡¯m sorry.


    Scarlet: Thank you for your apology, but do you know why I accused you? Because a few minutes ago, while I was trying everything to keep you alive and praying for you, you were trying to hurt yourself.


    Pathum: How come I¡¯m a liar just because I hurt myself?


    Scarlet: You wouldn''t want to hurt me if you loved me. And if something happened to you, that means I will never get to see you. Doesn''t that mean you never cared about me in the first place? Because if you ever cared about me and loved me, you wouldn''t hurt yourself; you would live for me or your mom.


    So that''s why the blade fell. I''m a hundredth time pleased that it fell from my hands. If it wasn''t for that tiny accident, then maybe that blade would have pierced my selfish skin and poured a few glasses of red wine at my funeral.


    Pathum: I¡¯m so sorry, sweetie... for God¡¯s sake, my grandma saved me. If she had never come to my room with that tea and talked to me, I would¡¯ve taken the blade and experimented with a stupid theory.


    Scarlet: Exactly. You only care about yourself.


    Pathum: That¡¯s not true. I love you.


    Scarlet: Prove it.


    Pathum: How?


    Scarlet: Take one day at a time and do it as long as God planned for you. Don''t ever take your precious life.


    Pathum: I understand sweetie. I¡¯m so sorry that I caused so much turmoil trying to ease the grip my mind held on me.


    Scarlet: Stop apologising, Pathum. I¡¯m going to show your picture to my mom and tell her about what you planned on doing to yourself.


    Oh, you¡¯re in trouble! They will hate you for being so selfish! My mind taunted me as she went offline, it brought forth a cascade of thoughts each pushing their limit and sparking my nervous system for immediate shutdown.


    In the meantime, I hurried to grab the blade and put it away in case I needed it.


    I¡¯d never try to harm myself ever again.


    Liar! You couldn''t even rescue yourself. You had a chance to be free and get out of this pain, and you took it away. Just cause a faraway girl preached surrow and value of love.


    I am not a liar, so shut the fuck up. I don''t listen to you anymore. I will be alive, and I will always be until my final day, and I don¡¯t decide on my final day, the will of the universe will dictate the end of my days.


    Ten minutes later, I got a text from her.


    Scarlet: Umm.. Pathum, I hate to tell you this, but my mom is mad at you.


    Pathum: What?! Oh, no!


    Scarlet: Yes, so hurry up and get your voice ready. I wish you the best of luck. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be listening, so don¡¯t freak out; listen to her.


    Pathum: OMG, a call? Ugh, my voice isn¡¯t good. I stutter, and it¡¯s night. Everyone¡¯s asleep now. Are you sure this is the right time?


    But before I could send the message, my phone rang.

 Chapter 26

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    ¡°Hello dear,¡± My mom said to Pathum once he picked up the phone.


    ¡°Hel¡­lo,¡± he answered, his voice trembling with fear.


    I exchanged a concerned glance with my mom upon hearing the tone in his voice. I hoped that he wouldn¡¯t freak out too much about talking on the phone, but part of me knew my hopes would be in vain thanks to his panic exploding and a storm of thoughts enveloping his whole world.


    My mom turned away from me, but I still heard her saying the following words to Pathum.


    ¡°Are you scared, dear?¡±


    ¡°Umm..¡± He raised his voice, but no words came from his end.


    ¡°Awww!¡± I said, giggling a little at the adorable way he stammered.


    My mom shot me a curious look out of the corner of her eye, and my expression mainly became blank except for the slightly amused twinkle in my eyes.


    Pathum was too cute sometimes.


    Mom shook her head before returning to the phone.


    ¡°Come on, dear. There¡¯s no reason for you to fear me,¡± she said in a soft, reassuring voice that I had often heard her use when comforting Abigail. ¡°Do you understand me, Pathum?¡±


    It was a few short moments before he managed to speak again, but it was barely audible.


    ¡°Yes¡­. Mmmm, Mama Scarlet?¡±


    She smiled before schooling her features into a stern look and speaking firmly.


    ¡°All right, sweetie, I need you to calm down. We are not going to eat you, and I¡¯m not going to hurt you, either. But tell me, what was that picture about? Were you thinking about self-harm?¡±


    His voice on the other line went silent after she asked him this. He was trying to think of the best answer for her. Mom and I waited for him to answer, with me tapping my foot and shooting the phone with impatient looks.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mama Scarlet. I was not in the right state of mind,¡± he managed to say in a small voice.


    Mom¡¯s features softened at his tone.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s okay, dear. But tell me, why did you want to harm yourself?¡± Mom pressed gently.


    I was quite surprised by the way she talked to him. She was calm and collected, her expression compassionate, but more importantly, her voice was soothing.


    I¡¯m glad she¡¯s my mom. Frankly, I am proud of her. It''s mesmerizing to see her handle a problem in my life as if it were her own.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m scared for my mother¡¯s life, Mama Scarlet. I didn¡¯t know what else to do. It was like I was helpless,¡± he explained after a few minutes.


    Mom took a deep breath, and he continued stuttering, which I think is cute, though I am sure he¡¯s angry with himself.


    My mom clenched the phone tightly in her left hand. It was almost like the phone was going to break. She looked at me, a frown marring her lovely features.


    I mirrored her expression.


    All the while, we were both thinking about how we wanted to help him through this but couldn¡¯t figure out how to do so. It was a very confusing and problematic situation.


    My mom looked at me with concern. We wanted to help him, but how?


    Mom pursed her lips before replying to him.


    ¡°Why are you scared, my dear?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­. If COVID manages to kill my mom, I¡¯d die myself. It¡¯s not worth living my life without her by my side. She¡¯s been my whole world since I was a little boy.¡±


    His saddened words broke my heart, but I clenched my fist, anger flowing. My mom¡¯s grip on the phone had slackened during the conversation, but now it seemed to have tightened again. She gritted her teeth, her eyes hard and unyielding. When she spoke, it was in a sorrowful tone.


    ¡°Do you think your mom would be able to rest in peace knowing that you¡¯ve gone and messed your life up?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so, but I want you to understand that this situation was all my fault! If I had gone to Aunty Nirmala¡¯s instead of her, she would be fine. It would¡¯ve been me!¡± he replied, his voice agonized.


    Mom bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath.


    ¡°No, dear, you have got it all wrong. It was supposed to happen. God has His way when He makes plans. You might not see it now, but once you pass this stage, you¡¯ll understand,¡± she said, trying to be as convincing as possible.Stolen novel; please report.


    Pathum was not soothed by my mom¡¯s words. It only served to make his anxiety much worse.


    ¡°But if I had gone to deliver that package, none of this would¡¯ve happened,¡± he insisted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Pathum. Please,¡± Mom replied.


    The mind worsens things and shows us something we can''t rely on.


    Pathum scoffed in disbelief over the phone.


    ¡°Nevertheless, isn¡¯t it all my fault?¡± he asked in such a miserable voice that my mom didn¡¯t know how to respond. All she could do was hold the phone to her ear and listen as he continued his tirade. ¡°I was supposed to go to the neighbour¡¯s. But no, my mom did, and now, she¡¯s at the hospital, suffering from a horrible illness. All because I was a lazy, selfish prick.¡±


    ¡°Pathum, I know I keep saying this, but it¡¯s not your fault, son.¡± My mom¡¯s kind, soothing voice had me gaping at her in shock.


    She just addressed him as ¡®son?¡¯ What¡¯s going on, dear Lord?


    Whatever she said made us break apart because the next thing he did was cry¡ªwe heard him. Are we still going to ignore the fact that she called him son? Maybe that¡¯s why he¡¯s in tears.


    It took him a few more minutes to speak, but even then, he was choked up in tears.


    ¡°When I last spoke to the personnel at the hospital, they did not have good news for me. They said that my mom¡¯s confused, having trouble breathing and staying awake. It¡¯s so awful! Please stop telling me I¡¯m not to blame for her being sick because I am. She¡¯s in there, fighting for her life and her health because of me. Oh, Mama Scarlet, I¡¯m so scared for her!¡± Pathum continued to sob while managing to make his voice audible.


    There was a long, uncomfortable silence as my mom and I looked at each other. I could see the worry in my mom¡¯s eyes. She wanted nothing more than to be there for him, but we were hundreds of miles apart.


    It was nearly impossible.


    Still, Mom tried her best.


    ¡°Oh, son, I wish I was there to hug you and help you see that everything will be alright. Yes, your mom¡¯s not in a good place right now, but trust in the Lord; He has a reason to put her in this position,¡± Mom explained as comfortingly as she could.


    ¡°But why? Why would He put her in such a critical condition?¡± he asked, his voice breaking on the last word.


    I watched my mom shake her head, unaware that Pathum couldn''t see it.


    ¡°Honestly, Son, I wish I could tell you, but I don¡¯t know the answer. I guess it¡¯s something you¡¯ll need to discover. But to do that, you¡¯ll have to stay alive. Do you understand?¡± My mom asked firmly, and she heard affirmation from him before continuing in a firm voice. ¡°Scarlet told me what you attempted to do to yourself, and it made me realise that you¡¯re not in a good place mentally. But don¡¯t give up. It¡¯s worth fighting for another day to see the sunrise. So, don¡¯t hurt or kill yourself again. Do you understand me, Pathum?¡±


    When I was finished, he started apologizing profusely to Scarlet and me. It was hard to understand him because he was talking so fast, but we listened to him the best we could. What we could understand broke our hearts.


    ¡°Yes, Mama Scarlet, I attempted to harm myself, but I know it was stupid of me to do. I¡¯m so, so, sorry for putting you and Scarlet through this. I dropped the knife, I don¡¯t know how or why I did, but I¡¯m glad. It prevented me from harming myself,¡± he said, his tone becoming more serene with every word.


    I nodded firmly, and with satisfaction on my face. I knew he would listen to Scarlet and I, and stay alive. That was all we could ask for.


    ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, Pathum, God¡¯s watching you. He has His plan for your life. Trust in Him to heal your Mom, and trust in Mama Scarlet. I believe the love I¡¯m feeling for you isn¡¯t out of pity, but of purpose, well-being, and the bond you share with Scarlet. I see you as my own child.¡±


    I gaped at her in surprise.


    Did she call herself mama?


    I was so shocked, I didn¡¯t speak. I tapped my mom¡¯s shoulder, and stared at her, my eyebrow raised in confusion. She crossed her arms and reciprocated the expression.


    ¡°What is it, daughter?¡±


    ¡°Did you call yourself mama, or did I hear it wrong, or did you mean it for his mother.¡±


    She chuckled and pointed to herself.


    ¡°What? I can¡¯t call myself mama?¡±


    When I looked her in the eye, she seemed so serious. My heart blossomed at the sight of my mom loving my bestie. That was all I could ask for.


    Is this a blessing in disguise? First, it was the mess with Victor, and now the coronavirus is infecting his mom. Are these happening because they were meant to bring us together? Is this a part of God''s conundrum? I don''t know. All that I know is that having some faith will take us on a great journey.


    ¡°Are you saying he¡¯s considering you as his mother?¡± I asked. A second later, I realised the worth of my words.


    Oh, God, I shouldn¡¯t have said that. I thought, embarrassed and facepalmed.


    Mom smiled but it wasn''t a wide grin. However, her smile widened as Pathum surprised us by speaking aloud.


    ¡°I might not love you as much as my mom, but I¡¯ll call you Mama Scarlet and love you nevertheless. I¡¯m more than happy to do so.¡±


    A second later, my mom burst into tears of joy, her entire face lighting up. Abigail and I followed, clutching each other¡¯s hands.


    We called him to console and stop his tears, but we ended up in tears ourselves. He¡¯s adorable!


    Over the next few minutes, Abigail and I talked to him, and he was more responsive now than he had been when he first answered the phone. It was great. He sounded comfortable, but he would¡¯ve freaked out if it had been a video call.


    Maybe we could try that another day when he¡¯s in a better mood.


    Or maybe today.


    I contemplated the thought and typed the message asking him whether he was okay. I would not want to do it if he was uncomfortable. He has had a troubling day, and I do not wish to add to it.


    I got a message back a few moments later.


    Pathum: It¡¯s nighttime here, but not too late. However, you know that I¡¯m horrible when it comes to taking video calls. I stammer when the other person can see me.


    Scarlet: Aww, shut up, Pathum! Abigail here really wants to see how cute you are! She¡¯s thinking I¡¯m exaggerating about it. So, are you going to stand up for me or not?


    Pathum: But I¡¯m ugly ¡­


    Scarlet: No, you¡¯re not. Now, are you ready? Yes, or no?


    Pathum: But Scarlet¡­..a video call is kinda a big thing. How about we plan this for another day?


    Scarlet: Yes, or no?


    Pathum: Scarlet¡­


    Scarlet: YES or NO?

 Chapter 27

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    Gosh a video call? Scarlet, why are you a pain in my butt? I simply typed it and sent it to her.


    You shouldn¡¯t have said that. She was only trying to do something good for you and you went on to hurt her feelings?


    No no no.. I didn''t really mean she is a pain, she is not a pain but a blessing in my butt, oops not butt but heart.


    I made sure I shared that humour with her.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m a pain or blessing in the butt, huh?


    Pathum: Scarlet, I was just trying to be funny..


    Scarlet: Pardon me, my prince, your humour is underrated.


    Pathum: Ahem¡­ umm¡­ it¡¯s not even my bedtime but can I go to sleep? I¡¯m yawning ah.


    Scarlet: Oh you short bastard don''t you think you can get away with it. Are you ready or not?


    Pathum: Scarlet I thought you forgot it gosh not even my butt was able to get rid of this video call. Ugh. I am going to throw you to the moon. Do you know it?


    Scarlet: Didn¡¯t mom tell you to take precautions before lifting weights? You better watch your balls before lifting me. Because we don''t want that sack of balls to fall from you just trying to lift me. I''m not very light. Heavy stuff boy! Heavy country stuff lilttle boy!


    Pathum: OMG you did not just say that. I¡¯m offended ma¡¯am you better apologise.


    Scarlet: I sure did and I don''t care. So are you ready or not?


    Pathum: Gosh not even the balls are able to distract you. Fine, I¡¯m ready. I¡¯m going to eat you. You better get ready.


    Scarlet: Yikes, let¡¯s go girl!


    Pathum: Umm go girl go! Hurray!


    I didn''t wait until she made the call,  I touched the video call icon and soon her phone began to ring along with my heart beat for a slight second I couldnt decipher the difference between the ring of the call and ring of my heart.


    We spent the first few minutes giggling and as always I avoided the camera, which might look cute in her point of view but it is terrible in my point of view. But I guess that''s why she is my bestie. The bestie I never had, the bestie that changes my life.


    Even though with every second I mumbled and failed to convert my voice into words, she didn''t look disturbed. I don¡¯t know why I have this fear when it¡¯s my time to talk. It is just that I have no control over my weak subconscious behaviours.


    Why am I even shivering?


    Because you are such a loser.


    I know I¡¯m not that much of a loser. Unlike you freaking thing.


    You can¡¯t even talk to her like a man. What do you even know about not being a loser?


    There¡¯s no greater misery than arguing with my mind. So I stopped even though it pounded me with his thoughts. I shifted my attention to the screen where my beautiful blonde angel was smiling back at me.


    She looks like an angel. I thought dreamily. Now say it.


    I can¡¯t.


    Loser!


    Ignoring my thoughts, I gathered my courage and addressed her.


    ¡°Scarlet,¡± I said, my voice barely audible.


    Hearing my soft voice, she looked at me confused.


    ¡°I have to say something important,¡± I stuttered, my voice becoming higher in pitch. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Yes, what is it, Pathum?¡± She locked her interested gaze with mine.


    I broke it looking away.


    ¡°Umm..¡±


    ¡°What is it, dear? Say it loud so that we could hear it as well.¡± Suddenly Scarlet¡¯s mom occupied the screen, her eyes full of intrigue and eagerness.


    Her excitable behaviour made us both giggle.


    ¡°She looks like an angel,¡± I said boldly.


    ¡°Who? Me or Scarlet?¡± Mom raised her brows at me.


    I looked down, a blush coating my cheeks.


    ¡°Well umm.. I initially wanted to say it to her but well both of you look like an angel.¡±


    ¡°What about me? Am I not an angel?¡± Abigail chimed in, a pout on her face.


    Scarlet and Abigail¡¯s mother chuckled, her green eyes twinkling with amusement as she looked at a pouting Abigail and a snickering Scarlet before her gaze went back to me.


    ¡°Uh-oh, you¡¯re in trouble, boy,¡± her mother said, snickering herself.


    ¡°Well, let me rephrase it then. All of you guys are angels including your dad but most importantly the cutest out of you all is Scarlet. I¡¯m sorry for picking her, I don''t mean she¡¯s physically the cutest but she is both internally and externally the cutest girl I ever know. But that doesn¡¯t mean that mom and Abigail aren¡¯t cute. I¡¯m just saying Scarlet is such a blessing to my life. I¡¯m sorry if I sound stupid,¡± I said.


    Instead of looking offended or angry, Scarlet¡¯s mom smiled at me, and waved me off.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re good son, kudos for mentioning her father, he would be happy to hear from you,¡± mom said.


    ¡°Tell him I said hi.¡±


    ¡°We will but I¡¯m not sure whether he would respond because he¡¯s not really a people person. I hope you get the point.¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°I get it mom.¡±


    Scarlet¡¯s mom then gasped suddenly as she looked at her watch.


    ¡°Okay I gotta go dear, remember what I said to you, never think about harming yourself. There are people who love you and they¡¯ll be devastated if something bad happens to you. And don¡¯t worry we will continue to pray for your mom¡®s recovery until she comes home. We¡¯ll have you both in our prayers. We love you, and she loves you. Remember that,¡± mom said pointing at Scarlet.


    I offered Scarlet¡¯s mom a small, loving smile, and waved at her politely.


    ¡°Thank you mom!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget our advice, we need you to be alive and strong. Your mom would want the same. Be strong for her. Bye son, I¡¯ll see you soon,¡± she said before she stood up and left the room.


    Abigail stayed with Scarlet for a few more moments, occasionally making comments before she too got up and left, offering me a small but polite nod before she made her departure. This left me and Scarlet alone, and we kept staring at each other.


    ¡°You look so sleepy, Pathum,¡± she said, her accent was without a question is lovely and charming.


    ¡°I am, Scarlet,¡± I smiled.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but is it okay if I go to sleep now?¡±


    ¡°Ahem it is too early to go but it¡¯s okay. Goodnight, Pathum.¡±


    ¡°Bye!¡± I wanted to say goodbye sweetie but was only able to sound bye.


    ¡°And remember what we said, don''t ever leave us or leave me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry I won¡¯t leave you,¡± I said, trying to sound as convincing as I could.


    Even if my subconscious want me to give up I cannot. How could I when my family¡¯s happiness is dependent upon my existence and my family has new members other than mom, grandma and dad. Its without a shadow of a doubt Scarlet and her family.


    I fell into slumber and it was eight hours later when I woke up. The first thing that came to my mind was the tea. If my mom was here, she would have woken me a bit earlier and already readied my tea. But mom¡¯s absence seemed to hunt me.


    If I had said yes instead of refusing she would be here with you.


    I am so sorry mom. The guilt was eating me from the inside out.


    I washed my face and mouth despite the water being so cold. Fifteen minutes later grandma came into my bedroom with the morning tea. I drank it and focused on my studies even though I couldn''t keep up with it. There was no news about my mom but I am hoping for some good news anytime soon.


    The next week was spent doing our usual routine; I studied every day and talked to Scarlet. I also spent time with my grandmother. We didn¡¯t get any updates about my mom other than the fact that she¡¯s still sick.


    A few days later, my mom¡¯s older sister, came into my room.


    ¡°We got a call from the neighbour,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh will mom come home soon?¡± I asked to which she began to scratch her head and let go a sigh.


    ¡°About that.. I am not quite sure.¡±


    ¡°Why? Is mom okay?¡± I asked, starting to panic.


    She shook her head and watched me panic for a few minutes. However, when she couldn¡¯t take it anymore, she stopped me. She levelled me with a calm expression and held up her hands.


    ¡°Let¡¯s forget it, she will come home if she recovers.¡±


    What the actual freak, why is she talking about mom this way?


    Rude like they always are. I ain''t going to cry now. Hold it there boy.


    ¡°Will my mom come home or is she doing okay?¡± I said sternly while my voice didn''t show any sign of nervousness. Both my hands and legs were the opposite; they were vigorously shaking. If I was standing I am sure my legs would fail me.

 Important notice

    Hello there dear reader!


    This is to announce that my future chapters will be published without the help of an editor.


    My editor has taken a leave from editing process. Thank you so much for helping me with my books I wish I could repay you.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    So why is this an important notice? Well, it''s because as you know my English is not perfect and contains many errors, and I dont want my readers to think that it''s the fault of my editor to clear out those mistakes because my editor is no longer available and every faults(grammars,errors,punctuations etc. ) are the fault of mine.So if you want to blame someone then it is me(your writer)


    Thank you so much for your corporation and reading my book so far.


    Happy reading!!


    See you soon!


    Thank you!!!

 Chapter 28

    Scarlet¡¯s POV


    What does she mean by that? I questioned.


    Pathum: Oh, mom¡¯s going to be fine.


    Thank God. I breathed a sigh of relief and sent a prayer of thanks to God.


    Scarlet: I¡¯m so relieved to hear that. But we¡¯ll still keep her in our prayers.


    Pathum: Aww thank you so much Scarlet for everything you and your family did.


    Of course! I thought, beaming.


    Scarlet: We¡¯re soulmates so understand that I care about you and your mom. And don''t worry. Whether you allow me or not I¡¯ll still help you.


    Pathum: Thanks! So do you want to know what she meant that mom wouldn''t be able to come home?


    Scarlet: Yes I would like to know that.


    Pathum: Well since mom is a COVID patient, there¡¯s a quarantine assigned to everyone whether symptoms will show again or not anytime later. So she and Nirmala will stay at Nirmala¡¯s house for quarantine and once it¡¯s over my mom will come home. It¡¯s not like she¡¯s too far away but still I miss my mom. I¡¯m so thankful she¡¯s alive.


    Scarlet: God protects us. There¡¯s no need to be scared and panic as long as we trust in God, He wouldn''t disappoint us.


    Pathum: True!


    Scarlet: Can you imagine we just passed another one of God¡¯s tests? He must be so proud of both of us.


    Pathum: He sure is.


    Scarlet: When will mom be discharged from the hospital?


    Pathum: Maybe today.


    Scarlet: That¡¯s good.


    Fifteen minutes later I fell asleep and when I woke up, it was eight in the morning. I could hear mom raising her voice at Abigail. She¡¯s mad I better be up or else I am in trouble.


    ¡°Are you still asleep, Scarlet?¡± Mom yelled, suddenly banging in the door.


    ¡°Yeah! I¡¯m up, mom,¡± I said hoping it would convince her.


    ¡°You better be. Now, come outside, we have work to do,¡± she commanded.


    When she left, I changed out of my pyjamas and into a shirt and pants. We cleaned the kitchen, and in the living room there were rats, so we had to get rid of them.


    After the chores I laid in my bed opening Google Hangouts.


    Pathum: Hey! My mom¡¯s out of the hospital.


    Scarlet: Great! I¡¯m so happy!


    Pathum: But unfortunately she can¡¯t visit us, she will spend the quarantine at Nirmala¡¯s house with her. It¡¯s just a precaution to avoid the virus from spreading to us. The period is two or three weeks I guess. You know they say it''s what the government says for the sake of people.


    Scarlet: The government sucks!


    Pathum: They do, but I have to say people are fascinated by our government duties like the western countries and Europe. They¡¯re appreciating how well we handled the virus. You know still there are no deaths, I may be wrong but as far as I know there aren¡¯t. So that¡¯s impressive considering the chaos and deaths happening in Europe, especially Italy. There''s so many deaths there.


    Scarlet: Oh yes I noticed it as well, I don''t listen to the news but since you insisted me to look out I discovered the virus is rapidly spreading in the States too. I hope they take the right steps to stop it from spreading. Some states are still on lockdown while some aren''t and the virus is going out of control.


    Pathum: I hope you guys survive nevertheless.


    Scarlet: Don¡¯t worry about us, god will take care of us. We have faith in Him, and we know He will protect us.


    Pathum: That''s good to know Scarlet. You have my blessings too remember that.


    Scarlet: Of course I know that sweetie. How could I forgot my left side. Remember I have wrapped around my thumb you can¡¯t go anywhere.


    Pathum : You know I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re real. You know, a few years ago I watched this series named 13 Reasons Why and it was amazing. I dreamt of having a friend like her, like I dreamt of having that one friend who helps me and lives with me. And guess what a few years later it becamme true. Isn''t it just so marvellous? How our lives change, and now there¡¯s a virus eliminating people and causing trouble.


    Scarlet: God has a reason for everything, even though we can''t quite tell the reason why God has planned this virus now, we¡¯ll be able to decipher the conundrum later and then we¡®ll realise there was worth believing in Him.


    Pathum: I understand. I¡¯m sorry for the way I behaved, I panicked and thought about things that would never happen and so forth. Jesus really.


    Scarlet: Abigail is an over thinker like you and it gets her into trouble. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Pathum: I agree I am a terrible overthinker.


    Scarlet: Oh no you aren¡¯t terrible. You just overthink in an unhealthy way. Stop disregarding yourself.


    Pathum: You simply won''t let me take the blame will you?


    Scarlet: Not on my watch!


    Pathum: Copy that ma¡¯am!


    Scarlet: You''re adorable!


    Pathum: Aww I¡¯ll take it as a compliment.


    Scarlet: You can take it.


    Pathum: I guess you¡¯re not in love with me. Haha


    Scarlet: Me? Seriously not in seven hells will I fall in love with you? Don''t even think that I¡¯d fall in love with you.


    Pathum: Of course, of course! I never said you did.


    Scarlet: We¡¯re not going to carry on with this particular conversation, are we?


    Pathum: If it ends up in a bad place we ought not to.


    Scarlet: No I don''t think it will end in a bad place but I doubt it will do any good for you because I know how to roast you when it comes to love so back off little man.


    Pathum: Little man? I¡¯m not your short prince anymore?


    Scarlet: Both are acceptable.


    Pathum: Copy that ma¡¯am.


    Scarlet: Oh you took it as a joke now huh?


    Pathum: No ma¡¯am


    Seriously Pathum?!


    Scarlet: Brat!


    We continued our chit chat for a few more minutes and he went offline since he had an online class. I wonder what it''s like to be in an online class? Does this in some sense make us country people more rural compared to the rest of the world? Pathum have been engaging in these online classes since last month and our school hasn¡¯t given the slightest concern over these online schedules.


    Meanwhile Pathum is having two or three online classes each week. I doubt it''s because we are away from technology. Missing school for a few months wouldn''t do any harm for us but it seems the same cannot be said about their syllabus. Whatever it is, I still admire him for making an effort to do well in his online classes and excel better at them while also managing to talk and spare time for me.


    A while later, he messaged me again.


    Pathum: I am back and the class is over.


    Scarlet: And it''s your bedtime.


    Pathum: I¡¯m not going to sleep now sweetie.


    Scarlet: Okay. How¡¯s that book you¡¯re reading?


    Pathum: It¡¯s alright.


    Scarlet: All right. How¡¯s your mom?


    Pathum: She called me today and told me why she hasn¡¯t been answering her phone. She had left it at the neighbours house when they were admitted to the hospital.


    Scarlet: That makes sense. Are you glad that I told you to calm down and that God has a plan in everything He does?


    Pathum: Yes. He does.


    Scarlet: Good. Now, can I ask you a personal question?


    Pathum: *looks around and scratch his head* umm.. Personal? Umm sureeee *Pat said it quite loudly*


    Scarlet: Brat! Anyway, do you believe in God? I mean you ain''t a Christian but still you supported me through this journey and by the way you react and talk and behave it¡¯s very difficult to say you ain¡¯t a Christian. You act like you are. Hey I am not saying you are an actor what I am saying is you resemble an actual Christian.


    Pathum: Oh I¡¯ll answer that.


    Scarlet: Stage is yours.


    Pathum: So sweetie, I¡¯m not a Christian, but I¡¯m a Buddhist or more to say I follow the teachings of Buddha. But I don¡¯t follow every custom and tradition that¡¯s related to Buddhism. For example, I like to go to the temple but I don¡¯t like having company there, I want to be there alone. The feeling of peace vanishes when people gather. Also I don¡¯t always worship Lord Buddha and it¡¯s not a healthy practice but with our busy lifestyle, I have less freedom to spare for Buddha. But it¡¯s perfectly fine in Buddhism.


    We¡¯re not forced to go to the temple or worship but if we do those activities good things would happen and if we don¡¯t, no bad things would happen even though people create drama out of it. So less restrictions and rules when it comes to Buddhism. It has its own ups and downs.


    Like most Buddhists don¡¯t even visit the temple or do their religious observances properly because there¡¯s no motivation for them to do so and mostly because the buddhism buddha preached is far from the religion we follow. You know years of influence and struggle have made it so different. Okay I¡¯m sorry for a moment I went off-topic but its all to explain to you, I was just creating the background to answer your question.


    So to sum it up, no I¡¯m not a Christian, I don''t go to church. Of course you know this. But I once visited a church with mom and that''s all. So I have to say I don''t have faith in God like you do but still I respect your God or our god. Just because I lack faith doesn''t mean I hate God or don¡¯t believe in His existence. I don''t know whether I believe He exists or not. It could be a yes or no and that doesn''t matter to me as long as you¡¯re happy when I pray and respect God that''s all that matters.


    My faith in God is not as strong as yours but still I have a tremendous faith in my bestie. No matter what happens I have so much faith in her so she will take care of us. Even though my heart is forbidden to love God as much as I want, my heart doesn''t forbid me from giving the whole portion of love to you.


    Scarlet: Wherever you go, and whatever you talk about, you always end up on me. Don''t you?


    Pathum: Hehehe


    Tears started to stream down my cheeks as I read his message for the second time.


    How is he able to match those words just so that they could make a hole in my heart? He always finds a way to touch my heart. Maybe that¡¯s why he is my bestie after all.


    Scarlet: Thank you sweetie. Are you going to sleep now?


    I asked the question and went away to wash my face. When I came back, I had no response from him.


    Cutie has falllen asleep


    Putting the phone aside, I got busy feeding the chickens. The rest of the day was quite good. Even though his mom was not in the hospital but was in quarantine, he wasn''t fully recovered from the anxiety. He would often get panic attacks and stress out of his studies and blame himself like he always does.


    We spent the next three weeks quietly, while both of us managed to take the necessary sleep we needed to get.


    Pathum: Sweetie, are you ready?


    Scarlet: Yes, but I¡¯m nervous. Yikes!


    Pathum: Come on, don''t be scared. She only wants to talk to you. She will probably thank you for your service. She will appreciate you for praying for us and helping me out.


    Scarlet: Okay! Copy that sir!


    Pathum: That just was a ¡®you are a brat¡¯ moment. Anyway, shall I make the call now?


    Scarlet: Go ahead.


    And my heart rang along with the phone. A video call with his mother? Besides the cutie himself!


    What couldn''t be more eventful?

 Chapter 29

    Pathum¡¯s POV


    I hugged my mom as soon as she came into my room. Tears cascaded from her eyes while we were hugging. Even though my eyes weren''t filled with tears, my heart was screaming in joy.


    ¡°So, show me your girlfriend. Be quick,¡± she said while caressing my hair.


    I shook my head, partially annoyed and excited.


    ¡°To begin with everything, she¡¯s not my girlfriend. Okay mom?¡±


    My mom¡¯s dark eyes lit up with excitement and she jumped up and down, grinning wildly.


    ¡°Aww, does that mean she¡¯s already your wife? How exciting!¡±


    I rolled my eyes at her overly-excited tone, but her joyful behavior made my day. I couldn¡¯t resist grinning. It¡¯s a delight to see her happy after what she endured.


    I love you mom, and I¡¯m so glad to be here with you.


    Why not translate those thoughts into words?


    Nah, I¡¯m fine!


    Don¡¯t you want to make her even happier?


    I¡¯m a bit shy¡­


    It¡¯s my turn to roll my eyes Pathum.


    ¡°Mom, stop the joking, will you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d tell you to do the same,¡± she said, her hands on her hips. Her smile widened with every word. I shook my head in denial.


    ¡°Okay, okay, let¡¯s talk to Scarlet now.¡± she said.


    Without hesitating I texted Scarlet and clicked on the video call icon. It rang and on the 3rd ring she answered. We stared at each other giggling and hiding our faces at the camera.


    ¡°Hello angel how are you?¡± Mom was the first to break the silence.


    ¡°I''m doing good mom, how are you?¡± she asked her, I was quite surprised at the way she spoke.


    She was quite comfortable around my mom. It surprised me as well as excited me.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, angel,¡± she smiled at her. My heart bloomed with excitement as moms referring her as an angel.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, mom.¡± she smiled back.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡±Where¡¯s your Mom, Scarlet?¡± My mom managed to ask through broken English. Still, I think her English was quite good, even if she thinks it isn¡¯t, I¡¯d still say it¡¯s excellent.


    She understands it when it¡¯s spoken and that¡¯s all that matters.


    ¡°Oh! My mom¡¯s in the kitchen,¡± Scarlet replied. And she made sure we saw her teeth when she smiled.


    ¡°So, now with quarantine over, what are you planning to do?¡± Scarlet asked her.


    I translated what she said to mom so that she would understand. Once I explained, mom replied in Sinhala, so I had to translate that back to Scarlet.


    ¡°At the moment no specific plans but as days go maybe things shall change, as long as COViD is out of my body. So how are you? Are you going to school or are there online classes?¡± I said serving as Mr. Translate.


    ¡°No, there are no online classes for us.¡±


    We talked about the weather and how to stay safe during the pandemic.


    A little while later, my mom was going to leave the room to give us some privacy.


    ¡°Okay angel, I¡¯m going now, bye! Be happy, darling!¡± She blew some kisses at Scarlet which she responded with a wide grin and a wave.


    Once my mom was out of my room, we looked at each other and said nothing.


    My mind was speaking thousands of thoughts but my mouth couldn''t respond to them quite strongly. But still I kept smiling even though part of me was disgusted at the boy on the screen. I did look ugly. Not by a greater extent but still ugly is ugly.


    Ugly!


    ¡°So are you going to keep that mouth of yours shut?¡± she asked me and I smiled in response. She smiled back.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I kind of stutter, I have many things to say but I can''t do it like I do it when it comes to texting,¡± I replied finally letting that sigh go.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Pathum,¡± she said gently, and I grinned. I loved how she pronounced my name.


    So, I teased her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. What was it?¡± I raised my brows.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°No not that.¡± I shook my head and she focused her gaze on me.


    ¡°What was that name again?¡±


    She contemplated for a moment, looking puzzled but when she got it, she laughed wholeheartedly.


    ¡°Can you pronounce my name please?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Only if you would return the favour,¡± she smiled.


    ¡°Ugh, my voice is very bad for your ears.¡±


    She pouted at me cutely.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t say that Pathum. Your voice is my favourite,¡± she replied.


    I can assure that those words melted my heart in a blink. Her accent and her innocence illuminated through her eyes were like nothing I imagined. I couldn''t believe the person in front of me, I couldn''t believe that someone as cute as her was talking to me. Since I need to return the favour I did it with a surprise.


    ¡°Scarlet!¡± I exclaimed, and she raised her brows at me. ¡°Scarlet my sweet bestie, I love you!¡±


    I cannot believe those words slipped out of my mouth. We both gasped at the courage I mustered up. How the heck did I manage to say that?


    You¡¯re not as weak as we thought you are, I¡¯m impressed.


    Shut the freak up Pathum. I told myself. Is this craziness itself?


    ¡°Oh my God he just said he loves you and gosh his accent. Are you on a video call, Scarlet?¡± a feminine voice said suddenly.

 Chapter 30

    I turned, recognizing the familiar sound of my sister squealing in excitement.


    ¡°Show me his face,¡± she gushed, grabbing my phone. She looked at him like she was about to eat him.


    She looked at the screen, which showed Pathum hiding his face with his hands. I was glaring at her for grabbing my phone, but she ignored it. Instead, she looked at me and pouted.


    ¡°Aww.. Scarlet, he just hid his face. Show me your face, Pathum,¡± my sister raised her voice.


    I wonder whether he likes her accent as well? If so, does he prefer her voice to be better than mine? Well I know mine is his favourite. No girl will take that place.


    I contemplated those thoughts and soon regretted the decision. Because the next thing that came out of my mouth silenced everyone.


    ¡°Is her voice better than mine?¡±


    I closed my mouth instantly but it was too late, they already heard it. My sister looked at me confused and shook her head. I didn''t know what to say in defence or to get out of this awkwardness so I remained silent.


    He cleared his throat and tried to say something but he just wasn¡¯t able to do that.


    Abigail grinned at both of us, mischief in her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re in deep trouble mister, hurry up we all are waiting.¡± she said while he hid his face again like a shy kid.


    ¡°Umm both are good.¡±


    ¡°Nah that doesn''t satisfy us. We need a satisfactory answer,¡± Abigail said even before I could reply, I looked at her but she avoided my gaze.


    He¡¯s going to cry if Abigail keeps talking to him.


    ¡°Well return the favour, then I¡¯ll decide.¡±


    ¡°What favour?¡± Abigail asked raising both her brows.


    ¡°Well I said something addresing my bestie, even though that grabbed your attention I never got a say in reply,¡± he said, we both looked at each other shaking our heads and then it dawned on me.


    You need to confess your love to him.


    ¡°Oh, I get it now,¡± I said smiling.


    My sister looked at me and my smile got even wider looking at her clueless expression.


    ¡°Am I missing something?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I said.


    ¡°Come on tell me.¡±


    I rolled my eyes.


    ¡°I love you too, my bestie!¡± I replied chuckling,


    Abigail broke into laughter the second those words slipped out of my mouth.


    ¡°Well.. I love you too, Pathum..¡± she said.


    ¡°As a sister,¡± I added to which she made a face.


    ¡°I¡¯m making sure he won''t get a girlfriend,¡± I said in defence.


    Abigail rolled her eyes and crossed her arms before smirking at me.


    ¡°Doesn''t he already have one?¡± she replied sternly.


    He already has one? What? No! It can''t be!


    None of us replied. Neither did his smile fade.


    ¡°Don¡¯t act like you don''t love her, Pathum,¡± my sister said to him. She is not going to give up on the topic that easily.


    Can''t she leave already? I thought, groaning inwardly.


    Even though I was excited when she joined the conversation, now it''s frustrating.


    ¡±Abigail, please give me my phone back and leave us alone,¡± I said pleadingly.


    Abigail smirked wickedly and stood up, practically thrusting the phone into my hands. She went to the doorway, but stopped and turned to face me.


    ¡°Now you lovebirds can spend time together. Hallelujah!¡± She left once the words left us in an awkward silence.


    Pathum was blushing profusely as I turned to the camera, my expression apologetic.


    ¡°I¡¯m extremely sorry for what she said.¡±


    To my surprise, he waved it off quickly.


    ¡°No no don''t be, it was just fun, hehe¡­¡± As he stretched the last word it made him way cuter.


    The atmosphere in the room quickly calmed down, and I settled in my chair, a contemplative look on my face.


    ¡°So what are we going to talk about? Are you comfortable with the video call or should we go for our usual chatting?¡±


    ¡°I prefer chatting usually, but we don''t get the chance to video call everyday so lets enjoy the time we have for now.¡±


    I nodded eagerly.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Roger that sir!¡±


    ¡°EXCELLENT ma¡¯am,¡± he said.


    ¡°So what are we going to do? A staring contest?¡± I smiled at him.


    ¡°I was thinking about the platform we are texting. Why not shift into a newer one, haven¡¯t you thought about it? Google Hangouts has network issues and it takes time to send pictures so I was thinking why not move into another platform. You know it might be the next step of our friendship. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± he said.


    I nodded after thinking it over.


    ¡°Yeah, we could try another platform. Do you have any suggestions?¡± I asked patiently.


    I wanted to know his idea first, then mix mine later.


    ¡°I have WhatsApp, most or all my schoolmates are on that app. Also all my online classes and teachers are in that app. Whatcha think about it? Are you going to download WhatsApp?¡± he asked and I felt like lightning struck.


    WhatsApp? Oh, I¡¯m sorry Pathum but that¡¯s not going to work.


    ¡°Umm.. WhatsApp? That green colour app with a phone icon?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s famous. Don''t you know it?¡±


    ¡°I know it but mom dislikes that app, so unfortunately it might not work.¡±


    ¡°Tell your mom it''s not a bad app, Scarlet.¡± I felt pity at the mention of my name.


    He is cute when he pronounces my name!


    ¡°Yes I know it¡¯s a good app but something that happened recently with that app bothers us, so it might not work well but still I can ask for permission,¡± I smiled trying to hide my sadness.


    He kept his smile even though I know he got hurt by what I said.


    ¡°Okay you can ask for permission, so should I hang up? Or are we still going to be online?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, don¡¯t hang up. It¡¯s fine,¡± I said even though part of me knew that it ain''t going to be good since mom has a recent dissatisfaction with that app.


    Nevertheless I walked towards mom, but avoided the topic I wanted to ask instead asked her how she¡¯s doing.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine Scarlet. Now what do you want to talk about?¡± She narrowed her eyes at me in suspicion.


    How did she know I was here for something?


    My expression betrayed me.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re into something. It isn¡¯t that difficult to figure it out. So tell me whatcha want.¡±


    ¡°Can I download an app?¡± I asked nervously.


    ¡°Why ask me?¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s a social media app.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± She raised her brows at me.


    ¡°I want your permission?¡±


    ¡°Tell me what¡¯s the rush all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°No mom its just Pathum said he¡¯d like to move into a new platform. Something much better than Google Hangouts. So he asked me whether I can get the app,¡± I explained as she listened to me calmly.


    ¡°What¡¯s this app you¡¯re talking about, Scarlet?¡±


    I looked at her and then stared back at Pathum who was focused on something outside his screen. That was good. I don¡¯t want to hurt him. I don''t want him to be hurt by what she¡¯s about to say.


    ¡°It¡¯s WhatsApp,¡± I said and the moment the words slipped out of my mouth she stopped her work and locked eyes with mine. I knew I said something wrong.


    She raised her brows as high as she could, like Dwayne Johnson AKA The Rock. The only difference was The Rock was less intimidating. Mom released a breath like she is about to teach me a lesson.


    ¡°Scarlet, after everything that happened and everything you heard you still think I would give you permission to use that app?¡±


    ¡°Mom yes or no?¡± I cut her not wanting to listen to her lectures.


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    It almost gave me a heart attack.


    Pathum was still focused on something that was going around his background. Was he intentionally avoiding me or pretending that he did not heard me.


    ¡°Pathum she said no,¡± I said but it wasn''t loud enough to grab his attention so I had to repeat the comment, raising my voice.


    ¡°What about Viber?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡±


    I went to ask her and still the response from mom was no.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find another app soon, Scarlet and umm¡­¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Ah nothing.¡± He shook his head.


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t be like that, now tell me what''s on your mind.¡±


    ¡°Umm it''s silly though.¡±


    ¡°I would still love to hear it,¡± I demanded much to my surprise.


    ¡°It¡¯s just when it comes to texting I often mention the word sweetie but when it comes to speaking I rarely use that word,¡± he said, mostly avoiding the camera.


    He is still shy isn¡¯t he?


    ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not okay, so Scarlet sweetie thank you for being my friend. Okay?¡± he said with a wide grin, it''s way sweeter when he pronounces those words. It''s like honey on my tongue, so pleasant on the ears.


    ¡°I got you.¡±


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to go then.¡±


    ¡°If you say so,¡± I smiled back.


    ¡°Goodbye sweetie!¡±


    ¡°Goodbye Pathum.¡±


    We hung up and his smile was perfectly framed in my mind. I couldn¡¯t just forget that smile.


    He is just adorable!


    I went on to do the dishes. When I came back I got a notification from him and it read that he wanted to try this app called ¡®Line¡¯. It''s a social media app and it looks like WhatsApp but slightly different.


    Pathum: Your Mom might like this app. I downloaded it and it looks nice. Go ask her and hurry up sweetie.


    Scarlet: Okay. Give me a minute, and I will ask her.


    I walked towards my mom who was busy stitching a gown.


    ¡°Mom please let me download this app, it isn¡¯t bad,¡± I said, begging her to agree with me.


    ¡°You can keep talking in google hangouts like you guys did earlier.¡± she went back to stitching her gown.


    ¡°Mother please!¡± I pleaded.


    ¡°So you really want to download this app and you are certain its safe?¡±


    ¡°Yes mom it must be safe, the world is not as dark as we thought it ought to be.¡±


    ¡°Oh stop being a philosopher.¡± She tapped my cheeks.


    Ouch it hurts.


    Nonsense.


    ¡°Okay¡­. is that a yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You can download it,¡± mom said and I hugged her instantly.


    ¡°Thanks mom.¡±


    ¡°But only under one condition.¡± she said, and my heart started to beat a bit faster at her words.


    ¡°Umm what?¡±


    ¡°Only if you promise me one thing.¡± mom locked her eyes on mine.


    ¡°Oh okay, what is it mom?¡±


    ¡°Promise me that you would not stay late at night and that you would get an adequate amount of sleep.¡±


    The moment she said those words, silence spread like a storm.


    What am I going to say now?

 Chapter 31

    Pathum POV


    Excitement  spread across my heart when she said she could download the app. But still we had to respect the promise mom asked. Even though we both were doubtful whether we could follow that plan even in the short term. Still we could atleast try it in the short run. It doesnt matter whether we could keep going but atleast we respected her promise.


    The new app was great we not only had the ability to send a picture but send a group of picture in a blink of an eye while it would take hours on google hangout. I guess whatever it does the original quality of the picture do get reduce but nevertheless its good to have an app where we can share picture more often and quick.


    Pathum : I love this app, the sound of notifications and the app itself is great, how about you?


    Scarlet : I could say the same, i love it too!


    Pathum : Awesome!


    Scarlet : Yeah!


    Pathum : I think we need to respect her promise, its already eleven. Are you thinking about sleep?


    Scarlet : I dont want to leave you.


    Pathum : But sweetie we must respect her promise dont we?


    Scarlet : thats true, but I dont want to leave.


    Pathum : i know that sweetie but its for the best. To be honest I think you shouldnt skip that eight hour sleep, you must get it .


    Scarlet : Dont you want me to stay? It seems you are trying to push me away.


    Pathum : I want you , I want to talk to you all day if its posssible. But I shouldnt be selfish and reduce your sleep and cost your health issues. I shouldnt take advantage or disregard the repesect we have for our promise. I doubt whether we could continue our promise but still we may do it while we can. Control what can be now so that we have no regrets.


    Scarlet : Inspirational my prince.


    Pathum : Just prince?


    Scarlet : My short prince.


    Pathum : I am not that short ??arent you ashamed to be my bestie? I am barely 5ft.


    Scarlet : And I am 5ft 2inches. Guess what I dont care whether you are taller or shorter , whats important is the person in that heart, I respect him. And dont feel down your height is none of my concern and oneday when you get a girl friend I will make sure she respect your height , if she¡¯s gonna brag about your height imma kickk her butt way before yoou notice it.


    Pathum : Aww my bestie cares about me.


    Scarlet : ofcourse I do care about you. Who do you think you are to say such nonsense! Aaaaheem I am so sleepy.


    Pathum : Ba ba ba da da da may my bestie fall asleep


    Ba ba ba da da da may my sweetie have sweet dreams


    Scarlet : *dead asleep*


    Pathum : gosh finally I get a rest, thank god she is asleep. Freedom .


    Scarlet : Dont even think you can get rid of me,


    Psthum : HEHEHE


    Scarlet : OMG pathum, I almsot got caught


    Pathum : What do you mean?


    Scarlet : Mom came to my room and I pretended that I was asleep. Gosh.


    Pathum : OMG wow! Hopefully lets not disappoint her and sweetie you need to have your eight hour sleep so do sleep sweetie.


    Scarlet : You really want to get rid of me don''t you?


    Pathum : You are in a deep misunderstanding. I don''t want to get rid of, I want to talk to you all day forever but unfortunately you need to rest and we should make sure we don''t make mom mad. So stop thinking stupid things, I never wanted get rid of you , so stop that nonsense immediately.


    Scarlet : You are adorable ! I will sleep now, sweetie, study well until I come back.


    Pathum : goodnight sweetie!


    Once she went into sleep I focused on my biology note.


    And right before twelve p.m mom suddenly came to my room and said


    ¡°Shall we go to Kalana¡¯s home today?¡± She said, yawning.


    ¡°Okay okay lets go.¡± I shouted in delight, a ride in a three-wheeler and to meet my brother means something else. I haven''t met him in five months , bro must be starving to play some games and cricket. Well when it comes to cricket I always had the upper hand I dominated , rarely loosing a match to him and make a fond of my opponent .


    ¡°Get ready, I will call either ruwan uncle or someone to take the ride there.¡± she said


    Soon getting out my room I ran to the well. And grandma was already bathing but excusing her I bathed quickly and removed the clothes and told grandma to wash them.


    Naked in the middle of the well? How shameful!!


    Save your humour I meant to say after bathing I removed them, not that I got naked I had a towel covering me.


    I managed to do all of this within 12 minutes. While i looked myself in the mirror I noticed the moustache. I need to get rid of it. So soon I went near the tap behind the house and shaved it, since I didnt had a mirror I was clueless whether I was shaving properly or not but anyhow I successfully managed to do it.


    All this while the ladies in the house were still talking about what to wear.


    Uh ladies!


    My outfit was simple. It was a denim and a black t-shirt with buttons. It was black and ash colour but still its a nice piece of cloth.


    Since mom were still arguing which to wear I came to my room and looked at the mirror. For some reason i felt good about myself.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I am handsome am I not?


    Especially since I shaved my lil moustache, it brightens my face and my tan skin looks lighter.


    Thats when it pop up to my mind,


    Why not take some selfies , since you look jaw-dropping


    Seriously Pathum? Didnt you had a better word?


    Oh shut up handsome go take some and lets give the whole package to scarlet when she wakes up.


    And I took some pictures, they looked better especially with the sunlight falling to my face and the background cream colour of the wall. Anyhow i took about ten selfies and none of them were disappointing to my luck. They honestly look so good.


    Gosh I never knew I was this handsome.


    I took the pictures and forwarded them to scarlet.


    Scarlet was still asleep so I wasnt expecting a message from her.


    The journey was fun, a ride on a three-wheeler is always fun. Especially since we feel the wind kissing our face. Watching the scenery and enjoying the laughter was something I always admire. In case you are confused what a three-wheeler is just know it is a vehicle that could carry 3 or 4 people and it has 3 tyres and if that didnt made any sense just search ¡®tuk-tuk Sri lanka¡¯ your desires will be granted.


    Within 40 minutes we were at mom¡¯s elder sister¡¯s house or Kalana¡¯s home.


    ¡°Ah brother¡¯s home.¡± he screamed when he saw our vehicle coming.


    Gosh lil bro is excited


    I laughed inwardly, knowing that the time I am about to spend now is definitely worth than anything. I wouldn''t necessary say this is the best thing that happened today but still visiting our cousins is always a pleasure.


    ¡°Pathum. How are you doing son?¡¯¡¯ Mom¡¯s sister said wiping her face, I exchanged a wide grin in return. Actions better than words.


    You stutering fool thats a lie! That wasnt the case, its you. The problem is you, you are antisocial or more a coward or socially awkward.


    ¡®¡¯Shut up¡¯ I groaned . Kalana who was eying for my mobile phone stopped moving.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± he asked with wide eyed.


    ¡°Oh nothing, nothing at all.¡± I laughed. I know one thing and that¡¯s he cant wait untl i give him my phone so that he could play games.


    ¡°Did you bring your phone?¡±


    I shook my head


    ¡°Liar!¡± he tapped my leg.


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Because you always bring your phone.¡±


    I smiled, its true. So I gave him the phone eventually. He eyes almost popped out of his socket when he saw the game launcher.


    ¡°There¡¯s so many games.¡±


    My smile only widen at his reaction.


    ¡°How did you got the data to download this much?¡±


    ¡°I am rich.¡±


    ¡°Puff sure you are.¡± he gave me a slight punch.


    ¡°Comeon brother tell me how did you got these?¡±


    ¡°Oh I told you.¡±


    ¡°I need the truth.¡±


    ¡°Already told so.¡±


    ¡°Specify it more.¡±


    ¡°The dialog gave free data to everyone.¡±


    ¡°Oh i know, our sister too got those free data from the mobile companies during the beginning of the lockdown.¡±


    ¡°And used ¡®time package¡¯ from Hutch.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s how you got it huh?¡± I promise you I could count his teeth, I may miss the accurate number but I bet my life he hasnt washed his mouth in a decade. So without further note I fired the roast.


    ¡°I can tell magic.¡±


    ¡°Oh okay.¡¯ he was so focused on the new racing game, Asphalt 7. It cost so much data, I am not a huge fan of it, but the graphics are a feast for the eyes except those races ended less than five minutes.


    ¡°I can tell something about you.¡±


    ¡°Okay. whatever .¡± I felt embarrassed. He just roasted me without actually trying to do so ,


    ¡°The last time you brushed your teeth was two months ago, isnt that so right?¡± I laughed out loudly.


    ¡°What? Are you joking?¡± he kept playing the game.


    ¡°Well its a joke why arent you laughing.¡±


    ¡°Its a bad joke, I brush daily.¡±


    ¡°I guess brushing too much makes it more yellow.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± he said, almost pushing me aside as he was taking a turn in his racing game.


    ¡°Oh nothing. Nothing at all.¡± I walked towards a flower pot nearby while he was busy playing the racing game. It was a nice purple flower, i felt instant need to burrow it home.


    We spent the next few minutes playing a few games, taking a sip of tea and eating biscuits. An hour later we were on our way home. However at our departure we had one more member in the tuk tuk, that¡¯s our little brother, he fought a war with his mother before winning the chance to come home with us.


    The ride to home wasnt as fun as arrival, the main reason it is crowded. But the new member wasn¡¯t anything like annoying he was our brother so we managed. Once we arrived I changed my clothes but felt the necessity to bath mainly because I was sweating.


    Listening to some yelling from mom we both bathed in the backyard where the shower and tap is, since we dont have a proper bathroom it was in some sense funny and fun. The water was cold, since it¡¯s almost seven in the night. I had to stopped using the shower since mom was angered by my childish behaviour with our 11 year old cousin.


    When we came from bath she had already woken up excited.


    Pathum : Good morning my dear bestie!


    Scarlet : A very good morning indeed!


    Pathum : Umm.. so¡­how are you? You seems very excited this morning? Did a handsome man arrived there.


    Scarlet : A very handsome man indeed!


    Pathum : Hehehe


    Scarlet : Brat! Those pictures of you are just flawless, gosh I can¡¯t believe I am such a lucky girl to have a handsome bestie .


    Pathum : Aww thank you!


    Scarlet : Thank you indeed.


    Pathum : Honestly I was surprised as well when I took those pictures, they were really some good clicks. I rarely captures good pictures and more demaningly pictures of myself.


    We talked for few more hours but was periodically disturbed by our brother. He sneaked his head once in a while asking me whom I am talking to and every gossip.


    We spent the next few days as usaual. Even though I didnt specified who Scarlet is he burrowed the idea that she is a boy who help me with my writing. It wasn¡¯t a lie though, half of his guess is ideal except just she is just not a male. Half of me wanted to reveal him the true identity of scarlet but shyness was taking a toll. And besides he saw the pictures why is he guessing its a boy? He is ten years old, is that a legal age to jump into conclusions such as scarlet might be my girlfriend. Honestly I haven¡¯t thought of her in such a way. Never has and never will. Why? Because she is my bestie, I should be ashamed of myself if I ever had romantic thoughts about her. I value virginity and here I value purity of thoughts. Thoughts are everything, they are the cornerstone and backbone of life, we become what we think famously preached by Lord Buddha. So keeping your thoghts pure is essentially protects your identity and others around you. So yes have a cup of healhty thoughts wouldnt doom you to death instead it will leads your to higher spirits in heaven. The more good thoughts we prosper they goodwill we attract. Well that doesnt mean bad things or terrific things wouldnt happen, I never claimed to have said that I just mean it is a healthy habit to maintain good thoughts and eliminate bad ones.


    So over the next few days my phone had a new owner and that¡¯s our cousin he played almost every game that could be played without an update moreover he downloaded some bus games, they were less graphic and cost a small number of data, but he enjoyed playing the vehicle games and I allowed him to take majority of my time which I could be spent with Scarlet. She is an angel, why would I think so ? Because it is what it is, she is an angel. When I revealed why I am being late to respond and who¡¯s in charge of my phone she certainly smiled and said it¡¯s okay. How did I know she smiled? Because it is what is, we are soulmates so I know every single move she makes.


    Eventhough Scarlet was pretty fine with bro taking my phone, you may think I wasn¡¯t. Well to be frankly honest I was fine for most of the part except I hated when he celebrate over me. I know he is a little lad and I need to calm my nerves. But my anger is a little concerning factor.


    Also me and Scarlet found a meaningful way to spent our time and thats reading a book mostly this was a ebook either on wattpad or a one downloaded for free. I was the officer in charge, So we picked ¡®Anna Karenina¡¯ by a Russian writer. It was a pretty large book, because it had many pages to read and we both got a pretty good start. She lead the way since she reads faster than me and I had to seperate time for my studies and also make brother happy. So she was chapters ahead of me.

 Chapter 32

    Scarlet POV


    It has been four months since I met him and I cannot believe how time when by , but something is not just alright something is strange, I feel something not that right. I need to tell him about this but I need to clarify it by myself


    I did the chores and was all alone by myself, and honestly something not just alright I need to tell him about this or else we would have some troubles, it just I feel like I need a shower


    So I got out of my room and entered the bathroom , as water started flowing through my body I felt someting is inside me something inside me wanted to get out of me, but I just couldn¡¯t figure out what it is I am just so confused. I don¡¯t know how long I have been in the bathroom or how long water have been flowing i just felt alive and lost, I was lost in the woods. Oh really not in any woods but I was lost at words,


    It is just him, it is something about him that makes me question the world around me. Something about Pathum is just not alright, I need to tell him that he is not just my bestie , he is not just my soulmate , he is far greater than anything In my life, he is light to my darkness he is my everything to me no matter what¡¯s the question. As water was flowing through my body tears started to flow as well, I couldn¡¯t stop but cry when it hits for me, my tears didn¡¯t stop I don¡¯t know why but my tears flow as I speak and think about him. He reminds me of my grandpa, he is more than him, his love is far greater than anything I ever felt in my life. I must tell him oh god I must tell him , I have to tell him now , after the shower I spent around ten minutes  contemplating what to wear and what to do, strange but funny. Pathum has taken charge of my mind that I lost day dreaming about him.


    Scarlet; hey sweetie I just came from shower whatcha upto?


    Pathum; nothing really , just reading a book, so what are you upto ? fresh and clean like a princess.


    Scarlet; I have to tell you something, something very important.


    Pathum; go ahead sweetie, all ears on you.


    Isnt he just adorable? he is just adorable and I cannot spend anytime keeping this secret to myself I need to tell him now, but how can I tell him ?


    Scarlet; you know I love you..


    Pathum; omg I know that sweetie.


    Scarlet; no you don¡¯t sweetie. I just love you more than that, I love you so much more sweetie, I love you a lot, I just need to tell you that I loive you so much more than anyone in this entire world , maybe more than your mom, I mean it, I do really love you .


    Pathum; I know sweetie, you are my bestie, my girl, my soul mate , my other half , my everything. Ofcourse I know that sweetie so tell me why did you thought about this all of a sudden? Are you alright sweetie?


    Aww this is so adorable, I need to tell him now.


    Scarlet; you missed something sweetie..


    Pathum; what was it sweetie ?


    Scarlet; tell me what am I for you .


    Pathum; my bestie..?


    Scarlet; just that ?


    Pathum; my bestie, my other half, my girl, my soul mate, my right side and my everything sweetie. You are my everything , the best friend I ever had in my life, theres no one who can replace you.


    Scarlet; could you add girl friend to that list , I think its time we move from bestie to girlfriend.


    Pathum; you mean lovers?


    Scarlet; ah  hehe yes .


    Pathum; wait so you are telling me that you are officially my girl friend , that means I have an girlfriend from now onwards, omg sweetie are you okay ? because I am not. Are you serious young lady? Are you sure that you are not outta your god dang mind?


    Scarlet; I am your girlfriend sweetie, it has been inside me for somewhile and I wanted to tell you about it, i never expected this time to be said but here it is I told ya and ya know everything better.


    I cant believe but I just said it, I always wanted to be more than his bestie, my sweet boy and me are lovers from now onwards, I just cant believe this. This adorable boy is now my boyfriend wow I am amazed I am just so happy, happy to be here and be his girl. There is nothing I cherish than that. Before everything I need to confess to god.


    Dear god thank you for planning everything out for us, please stay with us in our journey ahead. Amen! Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Pathum; Holy cr-. Nah holy


    Jesus I can¡¯t believe this.


    Scarlet : Me neither haha!


    Pathum : Hehe


    Scarlet : Stop.


    Pathum: It¡¯s outta ma control young lady.


    Scarlet : Young lady? Where the heck did you come up with ?


    Pathum : Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe


    Spell this, out loudly and


    Scarlet : Pathum!!!


    Pathum : Spell it out loudly.


    Scarlet : I cannot do that.


    Pathum : Please!!


    Scarlet : It would grab their attention.


    Pathum : Thats good they can celebrate with us.


    Scarlet : You are just adorable.


    Pathum : I aint but you are.


    Scarlet : Yes you are.


    Pathum : No I am not.


    Scarlet : Pathum


    Pathum : I aint gonna accept it unless you¡­


    Scarlet : Fine


    Pathum : HEHE gotcha!


    Scarlet : Brat!


    Pathum : And I need evidence, sorry proof.


    Scarlet : For what exactly?


    Pathum: On what you''re gonna spell.


    Scarlet : So you don¡¯t trust your girlfriend?


    Pathum : I hundred percent trust her and I do bet my life on her.


    Scarlet : Then why need proof?


    Pathum : I am sorry for saying that or bringing the topic that way, I should¡¯ve said it in another tone.


    Scarlet : Like what?


    Pathum : Dear sweetie, can I also hear your angelic voice while you perform your home celebration.


    Scarlet : You are such a brat!!


    Pathum : Tik tok tik tok tik tok


    Scarlet : Gimme a second.


    I took a deep breath and let go. Counting to three I did as he wished, and without a surprise it did grabbed mom¡¯s attention.


    ¡°For pete¡¯s sake what are you both upto?¡± She folded her arms and sat near the sofa


    ¡°How did you know that involved a two of us rather than me alone?¡± I asked surprised by mom¡¯s guessing.


    ¡°Because we know you are soulmates and especially nobody is insane enough to screamed in  the middle of the afternoon.¡± Sister Joined us, handing me my tea she took a sip of hers.


    ¡°Its a celebration.¡± Words spitted outta my mouth.


    Jesus no!!!


    ¡°A celebration?¡± Mom raised her brows while Abigail blinked.


    ¡°Umm yeah.¡±


    ¡°On what?¡±


    You both in trouble if you tell her


    ¡°On 4 months together as besties.¡± I lied, i mean a half lie.


    ¡°Oh!¡± mom finished her tea, I could tell by her reaction mY sister didnt bought that lie. Nobody said anything for the next few minutes and I moved back into my room and opened the new app which we talk. ¡°LINE.¡±


    Pathum :  Holy Christ I am so sorry sweetie for that trouble.


    Scarlet : That¡¯s fine I would do that once more for you, I would do anything for you.


    Would I ?


    Ofcourse I will.


    Pathum : You are so adorable, stop repeating those words for me, I aint anything adorable but look at you, you are pretty in face and pretyy in heart. I am so blessed. I may not believe in God like you do, but I believe you are blessing. I be stupid if I am unable to read that message.


    Scarlet : Thank you sweetie!


    Pathum : Do you think she figured it?


    Scarlet : I dont doubt it.


    So I walked over to her to revealed the hot news.


    ¡° hey Sister, I think I need to tell you something, something very important.¡±


    ¡° What is it scarlet? ¡®¡¯ she looked at me, mom was outside with dad and it was me and Abigail. IT WAS JUST US.


    ¡° I think I am in love.. in love with him.¡¯¡¯ I kinda stuttered.


    ¡®¡¯hmm okay..¡¯¡¯ She rolled her eyes.


    ¡°hmm okay? Thats it?¡¯¡¯ I said a bit loudly. Because I was expecting a large scream from her.


    ¡° you think that surprises me ? that surprises nobody, every day when you wake up its him , when you go to sleep its him, when you eat its him, when you go to shower its him, when you take pictures its him, when you do the chores its all about him, when you talk  its him, when you sing its him, its always Pathum , Pathum all day .


    I am not surprised that my sister is in love, I am surprised that It took so long for you to realise it.¡±


    ¡°I dont know a better way to receivce a beautiful compliment.¡± I giggled.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a compliment. It was a fact!¡±


    ¡°Tell me my dear sister when did you became so poetic all of a sudden.¡¯¡¯


    ¡°Cause I am working on my new poetry book and tada here I go with some reheasal.¡±


    ¡°Are you happy for both of us?¡± I looked her in the eye.


    ¡°I am I am so happy for you. I really am. I wish from the bottom of my heart that all will be well with you guys.¡±


    It was so beautiful! How did she managed to tell all those suitable words at the most suitable time? I just don¡¯t know, but she did an amazing job in that, she surprised me above all, and I couldn¡¯t tell she was smiling or even happy because I couldn¡¯t recognise her facial expressions because my eyes were full of tears, tears cascaded down through my cheeks as I moved into my room and fell into a deep slumber. It was a twenty minute happy nap. When I woke up my sister was busy with her phone and mom and dad was still outside.


    ¡°You know you may look at us on a positve frame but I dont think she would have the same perspective.¡± I said while looking outside where Mom was working on some flower pots.


    ¡°Mom!¡± she sighed.


    ¡°I know.¡±I looked down.


    ¡°Dont you worry about it, we would figure a way out to resolve this issue in no time.¡± Abigailed smiled and pat me on the back.


    ¡°I hope we would.¡± I forced a smile.

 Chapter 33

    Pathum POV


    Since the time I woke up I couldnt get rid of the fact that I need to do something interesting for her. I have to surprise her I will need to write a surprise letter to her . I am no longer just her bestie, I am much more than that, I am her boyfriend.


    Gosh can you believe that?


    No I cannot. I simply cannot believe this, not when we were destined to be besties forever and now we are a couple, a romantic couple. Wow!


    God has his ways of making us happy don¡¯t he?


    Eventhough I have a meagre faith in God, still those tiny little aspects do make my day bright.


    I took my pen and a piece of paper and wrote everything down.


    Dear happiness,


    So hi there! How are you doing sweetie? I am surprised , I am surprised and I am so excited to be your boyfriend, there is nothing in this world that pleases me more than seeing your smile, yes it is true that mom is the most important person for me but from now onwards you too are in that spot, I am wrong if I said that from now onwards you were always in that spot since you came into my life. I remember it was like yesterday march 13th 2020 at 10:45 P.M that notification thanking me for the follow, thanking me for the follow and the 2 hearts , and from that day onwards you became my everything you became my everything, I hope I could tell you everything and I will try my best to do that, so Scarlet first of all thank you so much for your generous offer, thank you so much for coming into my life you are not just a girl who just came to visit my life you are an angel , just like how my mom reminds you of, my mom whenever we get into a conversation about you, she always mentions about you, she refers you to an angel and that is so true, I cannot deny it. You are an angel you are my angel. My beautiful angel. So girl before you go further I wanna remind you how important you are to me so let me list out some important facts about you.


    You are the first girl to be my bestie


    You are the first girl to call me sweetie and all those sweet words


    You are the first girl to video chat


    You are the first girl to know my everything


    You are the first girl to be my soul mate


    You are the first girl to be my 24/7


    You are the reason why I am happy


    You are the reason why I am a good boy


    You are the reason why I love you so much


    You are the reason why I smile at pictures, remember the pictures I took before march 2020 ? they were all just me looking rude and serious but once you came into my life they all changed, you changed my smile, you gave light for me


    You are the reason why mom is happy and that we are a united happy family. Yes sweetie you deserve all the credits because if not for you there wasn¡¯t a single picture in my phone where I and mom were together but all thanks to you it is not the same again. And evenif there was a picture where me and mom would be there surely wasnt any where I was smiling at the camera but god blessed me with an angel who changed the serious look on my face to a smiling face.


    And most importantly you are MY LIL MOM  , yes you are my lil mom, let the world think about it in any way the world wants but you are my lil mom, yes I do have a mom but besides mom you are the lil mom who shines my life. You changed my life you gave me hope you gave me power you gave me light you gave me strength you gave me happiness and most importantly you gave me my purpose, my purpose to be a good boy for as long as I live here on earth. I want to give you everything that you ever wanted , you are an angel , you are my angel . I love you, I love you so much , I will always love you and love you so much. I will protect you and take you to the very best of things and give you the life you always deserves. Make things for you, buy the most luxurious of things I could afford and give them to you just so that to see your cute face brightly lit like a candle that never stop brightening the world around it.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    There is nothing more worthy than I am proud to be your boyfriend, I am still and will always be your bestie as well. I am so grateful to be yours from now to where end we would find ourselves mingle.


    Thank you!


    Pathum nisansala.


    I send her the letter and she was asleep, she will probably see it in the morning and when she does I am pretty sure that she will cry. My little angel will be in tears, imagine that cute face with tears, that sweet girl with tears happy and emotional there is nothing more than I would wish to see other than that cute face of hers and cherish those adorable tears that cascade.


    I just cant wait until I meet her , and one day when I do meet her it will be all well. The very first thing I would do is kiss her forehead and hug her wrap her around my skinny arms and protect her. I would make sure that forehead kiss would make her feel like she owns the whole world.


    It will be wonderful.


    Ofcourse it will be wonderful.


    I went to bath afterwards and came back within thirty minutes.


    ¡°What happened between you two?¡± mom said once I came into the room.


    ¡°With whom?¡± I asked puzzled.


    ¡°With my daughter in law.¡± she had a smirk in her face.


    ¡°Are you crazy? What are you talking about?¡± I said, or more like yelled.


    Why the heck did I yelled?


    ¡°Son, I passed your age.¡± she shook her head pausing the teledrama she was watching on her phone.


    ¡°So?¡± I said keeping the soap box where it is supposed to be a bit annoyed by her tone.


    ¡°So I know stuff.¡±


    I shook my head and started to wear my clothes.


    ¡°Is this how you behave infront of a lady? Dressing right in from her?¡± Mom said her hands on hips.


    ¡°Mom, I am not naked. I have my towel besides you are my mom what is there to hide? Nonsense!¡±


    ¡°Oh you still remember.¡±


    ¡°Remember what?¡± I raised my brows and glared at her.


    ¡°That I am your mother.¡±


    What the hell is she talking?


    ¡°What the hell mom?¡± I didn¡¯t hesitate before unleashing my fury over her.


    ¡°Watch your tone boy.¡± she said raising her finger at me clearly frustrated over my behaviour and loosing her patience.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± I said glaring at my phone.


    ¡°So tell me about it?¡±


    ¡°About what mom? There¡¯s nothing to tell.¡±


    ¡°I am not leaving unless you tell me the truth.¡±


    ¡°Fine. she¡¯s my girlfriend now,¡±


    ¡°I know that already.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Doesnt matter how, I already knew it.¡± she said with no smile on her face, I glared at her confused as to what she¡¯s talking.


    ¡°Then why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Wanna know whats between you two? Are you going to visit her and marry her or just a thing you both do to kill time and marry someone else.¡± She asked me clearly making me even madder.


    I love her, a lot it is not fake, not at all. Why is mom behaving this way?


    ¡°What? I won¡¯t marry noone but her.¡± she let go of a laugh.


    ¡°Really are you serious?¡± she asked in a mocking tone, I felt anger building up in me.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?.¡± I slammed the phone on the table.


    ¡°Do you know why am I here? Now troubling my dear son?¡±


    ¡°Oh enlighten me.¡± I said eager to know the reason.


    ¡°To let you know that if you keep texting her all day and never skip a meal but stay logged and locked into your phone. You ain¡¯t going to marry her, you are going to loose her. So stop the daydreaming and focus on your studies.¡±


    She¡¯s right.


    ¡°You never see me studying, don¡¯t you? Always here to say some crap about studies. You don¡¯t fucking see my studying except when I waste time.¡±


    ¡°You clearly haven¡¯t understood what I said to you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Study son, study.¡± she pointed towards the books.


    ¡°I do study, I can¡¯t do this shitty studies all the time.¡±


    ¡°Then get ready to loose her. You will never meet her if you fail your studies son, so please don¡¯t get mad at me I am just telling these for your sake.¡±


    ¡°I know and I am sorry.¡± I said clearly understanding her words, to make things better and as an apology I kissed her forehead and caress her hair.

 Chapter 34

    Scarlet POV


    My boy had sent me a sweet letter, and I read it , I read it many times, it makes me so happy, but I was thinking about this prom, there is a prom in wattpad I don¡¯t know whether we will be able to go for it, but it will be fun. I tried to let him know he was interested in the topic but I think we were out of date or something. Thats fine I have my boy not out of dated. I don¡¯t mind about a watty prom he is more important to me. I wished he was here so we could go prom in real life but god has other plans.


    So  his letter was so nice like always he mentions me and he named me as his LIL MOM, wow that is so interesting . Aww I cant tel how much joy that brought me especially calling me his lil mom, because it has always being a dream of mine to become a mom, hold a baby boy or a baby girl, well I guess I have my cute boy until I get a chance to have a baby boy.


    I might have to discuss that matter with him, he is my boyfriend why cant I? ofcourse he is the right person to talk these matters. I am not sure I need to tell him everything they said. But how could I not? I cannot those things to myself. I have to relase those burdens.


    I took my phone and texted him.


    Scarlet ; I wanna talk about something.


    Pathum ; we can talk about anything ma¡¯am.


    Scarlet ; it is some privacy matter.


    Pathum ; ma¡¯am are you pregnant?


    Scarlet; quite the opposite ma¡¯am.


    Pathum ; omg sweetie whats wrong? You can tell me anything, don¡¯t be scared just share I will listen to you all day no joking.


    Scarlet ; I am scared.


    Pathum ; sweetie it is alright to be scared ,


    tell me what exactly is that you are scared.


    Scarlet : i don¡¯t know Pathum. I am scared and tired.


    Pathum : Sweetie go ahead and spill it.


    Scarlet ; I am scared that I will not be able to be a mother, to have a child. Please don¡¯t leave me because of it.


    Pathum ; who in earth said that? Because they are nuts , they are wrong. you are still young and good so there are no such things as you imagine would happen. Stop thinking such rubbish.


    Scarlet ; sweetie it is not just a guess, I am very sorry, me and mom just talked about it and we think it is true.


    Pathum ; how do you know that sweetie you aint even married , don¡¯t fill your head with such nonsense , I am sorry but damn it mom she is wrong and you are wrong too, why did you jump into such conclusions? Tell me how?


    Scarlet ; there are some things that happen in a girls body , and they must happen if you are to conceive, if you are to have a baby at some point in your life some set of things must happen in your body, just basically starting with puberty, so some things hadnt occured to me yet so I am scared.


    Pathum ; sweetie you might be a late bloomer.


    Scarlet ; might ?


    Pathum ; sweetie please trust me , you are a fine girl , you are an beautiful angel and a angel like you never deserves such an fate, for god sake no there will be no such evil things its all in your mind, just like you told me in the past, it is all a fragment of the mind, the mind is taking control over your life so please don¡¯t be scared you will have a baby , not you, we will have a baby okay? We will have a wonderful child and all shall be good.


    Scarlet ; so you are not going to leave me?¡¯¡¯


    Pathum ; no sweetie never! don¡¯t even think about such stuff. I will never leave you, I never will I never has and I will never leave you , I am not crazy to leave an angel like you. So don¡¯t ever be scared to a single moment cuz I will never leave you no matter what.


    Scarlet : Are you sure you want to childlesss father?


    Pathum : We will have children don¡¯t worry about it.


    Scarlet : What if we don¡¯t?


    Pathum : Nothing¡¯s gonna change you will still be my wife. I will love you whether you give birth to a child or not. I love you.


    Scarlet : Do you still love me despite me being an infertile wench?


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Pathum : This infertile dwarf loves you,loves his angel.


    Scarlet : Don¡¯t call your self that, you are no dwarf or infertile. You are fine little man.


    Pathum : So are you. A fine little girl with a big butt.


    Scarlet : How much do you love my booty?


    Pathum : My dragon loves it more than I.


    Scarlet : Dragon¡¯s don¡¯t exist.


    Pathum : They do.


    Scarlet : where?


    Pathum : Between my legs.


    Scarlet : Oh you mean that 2 inch baby dragon. Oh I get it now.


    Pathum : HeYYY! HOLD YOUR TONGUE. He is far from two inches.


    Scarlet : Oh is he a balloon?


    Pathum : Thinking about you makes him a balloon, he can grow infinitely just like a tree seeking for sunlight he seek for his mate.


    Scarlet : What do you think would happen if I rubb my butt on him?


    Pathum : He might explode.


    Scarlet : We don¡¯t need him gone, we need him longer.


    Pathum: He can regenerate . Don¡¯t you worry about that?


    Scarlet : You said he¡¯s not 2. Is that really true?


    Pathum : Do you need proof?


    Oh god forgive me for what I am about to do


    Scarlet : Yes mister.


    Pathum : Only if you return the favour.


    Scarlet : I won¡¯t.


    Pathum : Neither will I.


    Scarlet : Pathum, let¡¯s accept the truth. He¡¯s so tiny that he couldn¡¯t fit into my dragonness am I wrong?


    Pathum : Scarlet, you are taking me in a wrong path, are you sure mom would be proud if she ever heard you saying this.


    Scarlet : I don¡¯t give a dang about it. I am tired of being waiting. I need you now, more than ever.


    Pathum : The horny little angel with a big butt.


    Scarlet : The dwarf with a big seed.


    Pathum : SCARLET. For god¡¯s sake are you drunk or high? Something¡¯s not so right.


    Scarlet : I am just kidding.


    Pathum : NO , no something is wrong why are you behaving this way?


    Scarlet : Because I am hor#y .


    Pathum : No something¡¯s wrong. You . Please what¡¯s wrong?


    Scarlet : Hmm¡­ nothing.


    Pathum : Scarlet what else did mom said?


    Scarlet : You wouldn¡¯t want to know them.


    Pathum : I knew it. I knew it. Damn them.


    Scarlet: ??


    Pathum: Now tell me. What did they said to you?


    Scarlet : Pathum I don¡¯t want to remind them.


    Pathum : You have to,because if you said you want to really not remind them then you wouldn¡¯t be acting this way.


    Scarlet : Both of them were so rude to me. They said mean mean things.


    Pathum : What exactly?


    Scarlet : That I will never be a mother, and that I have sinned in my past that¡¯s the reason why god has looked down upon me.


    Pathum: what else?


    Scarlet : I don¡¯t remember everything but somewhere in the conversation Abigail said I act like a wh#re. That I am in severe need of s#x.


    Pathum :  She¡¯s a bitch for that. You are a good girl don¡¯t let  them fool you. I can¡¯t believe they are your family.


    Scarlet : Neither can I.


    Pathum: So that¡¯s why you started to talk to me in weird way. Don¡¯t ever do that or loose your pristine beauty. You are a good girl. A good christian . A good child of god. So stop those nonsense. Clear them outta your head. Please do it for me. Will you?


    Scarlet : I can try.


    Pathum : Please.


    Scarlet : Fine I won¡¯t behave badly or ever think of what they said. Ever again.


    Pathum : That¡¯s my girl.


    .


    Scarlet : Pathum


    Pathum : Yes darling!


    Scarlet : Are you sure that you wanna stay with someone like me?


    Pathum : What do you mean by someone like you, did you mean an kind heartened loving good child that every parents would wish to have in their lives?


    Scarlet : Pathum You are making me cry.


    Pathum : So am I.


    Scarlet : But I am just useless-


    Pathum : Scarlet. Darling listen you are the perfect girl in my mind. I would¡¯nt want anything to be better in you.


    Scarlet : But mom and sis think otherwise.


    Pathum : I don¡¯t give a damn about them, baby you are perfect come dance with me hehe


    Scarlet : Thank you for doing this for me, I was completely not me when they said such things about me.


    He cares about me more than anyone in my family. People in my family only cares about themselves but Pathum aint like them he takes good care of me, he protects me, he is my light. I should be ashamed for ever doubting him.


    God thank you for bringing him to my life.


    Amen!


    ¡°Whatcha thinking?¡± Aibgail asked shaking me off my thoughts.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± I said without glancing at her cause I am disgusted of their presence. I however managed to not show my displeasure in my tone, because even if I do that will get me into more trouble as I am not mama¡¯s favourite daughter.


    ¡°You told him did¡¯nt you?¡±


    ¡°Told him what?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny it Scarlet. You have already told him everything. I just can¡¯t believe you.¡±


    ¡°Are you here just to say that to me? Please if that¡¯s your mission abort it now already i am sickened of your presence.¡±


    I pushed her aside and ran into my room with tears in my eyes!

 Chapter 35

    Pathum POV


    I FEEL so bad , she is such an innocent girl I never knew pregnancy was that kinda complex. That is all fine. I have to be there for her. I have to support her during these difficult times, just like she was here for me when I was scared I now have to repay my debts for her, she deserves my help and I wont let her down.


    The fact she dreamt of having kids from a very young age and now to see that dream scattered is so ridiculously sad. I think it¡¯s time for some prayer, if not now when right?


    Dear god, as you already know my baby girl is suffering from something that she shouldn¡¯t be. Please help her and guide her please I beg you. It¡¯s the only thing I ask you. She out of every female out there deserves the most to be a beloved mother please don¡¯t take that away from her. And please protect her.


    Thank you!


    Morning was usual, we had our tea and I read some books and chat with Scarlet as always.


    Scarlet ; you know I got some idea in me.


    Pathum ; oh tell me, enlighten me with your marvellous idea.


    Scarlet ; how about we make an joint account on wattpad? Isnt it something very interesting, ? we can help people and youy know it will be fun.


    Pathum ; wow! Yeah lets make one.


    Scarlet ; okay I will .


    So she did make an joint account which got some followers including me , her and her friend Annabelle. Annabelle didn¡¯t knew about our relationship, she knew we were besties but not more than that, we decided to kept it a secret but I guess she will soon know about it either way.


    Pathum : What is our mission since we already got some followers?


    Scarlet : Help those who need them like people who suffer from depression and abuse and etc.. you get the point?


    Pathum : Generous!


    Scarlet : Yeah!


    Pathum : Hey gorgeous !


    Scarlet : Pardon me?


    Pathum : Was I wrong?


    Scarlet : Not really.


    Pathum : Stop blushing.


    Scarlet : How did you-


    Pathum : I know everything.


    Scarlet : But you missed one important thing about me, didn¡¯t you?


    Pathum : Sweetie are you still thinking about it? Please stop. God will take care of that, there¡¯s nothing you should be worrying. Its utterly useless to spend time contemplating on something that is so futile and something which we cannot control. Trust me for once sweetie, I promise you , you will have babies. We will have babies. Wait a minute umm.. No nothing.


    Scarlet : What?


    Pathum : No nothing.


    Scarlet : Brat! Tell me


    Pathum : How many kids do you want?


    Scarlet : As much as to please my dear husband.


    Pathum : One is enough for me.


    Scarlet : Just one?


    Pathum : Yes sweetie, we can love that single baby. Beside I don¡¯t want you to go through pain it is not a easy job having a life inside your body, it¡¯s a precious duty bestowed upon great women. That doesn¡¯t mean those females who doesn¡¯t give birth are anywhere lower ,no they are as equal to these mothers but they just have  a different purpose in life.


    Scarlet : You are so wise.


    Pathum : Am I ? hehe


    Scarlet : So are you sure one is enough?


    Pathum : I mean if my wife wishes for more then I can indeed grant her wish.


    Scarlet : Also do you want babies right away or need time for it?


    Pathum :  Again whatever my wife wishes baby.


    Scarlet : Aren¡¯t interested in this topic?


    Pathum : Umm¡­ I mean I am not obsessed about babies but neither do I hate them, it¡¯s what best for you that I prefer.


    Scarlet : I am not talking about babies.


    Pathum : Then what?


    Scarlet : Oh please don¡¯t tell me you ain¡¯t knowing what I am thinking or talking about.


    Pathum : I am sorry I really don¡¯t understand what you are saying.


    Scarlet : I mean aren¡¯t you interested in the process of making babies? Are we gonna have baby rightaway the night we get or have some fun in the beginning and then later we can have any number of babies.


    Pathum : Oh now I get it. I know what you are talking about. Hehe.


    Scarlet : You are such a tubelight aren¡¯t you?


    Pathum : Actually I kinda guessed it, but never thought you would say that direclty or ever thought you were interested in such but now I know.


    Scarlet : Now you know what?


    Pathum : That you wanna f##k me so badly. Am I wrong?


    scARLET : You just not said that.


    Pathum : Hehe


    Scarlet : I am gonna forigve you now but next time I won¡¯t so don¡¯t ever use that word again, you have to be mindful of your language.


    Pathum : I am so sorry I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you with that word but to make you laugh.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Scarlet : You did succeeded in it but try not to use such words the next time. Okay? Please don¡¯t get offended.


    Pathum : I will not and totally understand.


    Scarlet : Good boy!


    Pathum : Are you sad?


    Scarlet : No I am not. Why¡¯d you ask that?


    Pathum : Because I feel bad for saying that word and upsetting you.


    Scarlet : You did not upset me sweetie. We know your intention so don¡¯t worry about it anymore. Let¡¯s move on.


    Pathum : How was reading about my wife?


    Scarlet : Oh she¡¯s so sweet.


    Pathum : Ofcourse she have to be. Hehe .


    Scarlet : Brat!


    Pathum : I read few pages didn¡¯t got any free time for reading mostly allocated for studies and classes. I am so sorry for responding too late for your messages these days it¡¯s just the classes are too overwhelming and I don¡¯t know what else to do but quit.


    Scarlet : If you quit you¡¯d never get to see me. Don¡¯t ever quit.


    Pathum : I won¡¯t. Even if I want to give up I REMINDED OF YOU. And reminding of you uplift my spirit to a higher level but still Scarlet My marks for Physics are too low or in other words too bad. I hate physics especially the sir and his fellow classmates.


    Scarlet : Oh I remember that so well. Why¡¯d you hate physics is it the teacher or subject?


    Pathum : Both.


    Scarlet : I understand.


    Pathum : But do you know why I hate physics? Or it¡¯s teacher. Please remember I never hated teachers, just one or two due to some reasons. And this physics teacher who is a sir has my displeasure greatly.


    Scarlet : I guess now is time for a story?


    Pathum : It is boy.


    Scarlet : Let¡¯s go boy!


    Pathum : So as you know after passing my O/level exam I was promoted and qualified to do the A/level exam. Again if I repeat the standard form of these exams, o/level stands for ordinary level and A/level stands for advanced level. We face o/level at grade 11 and a/level in grade13. So after passing my exam I came to the biggest school of my district , the landscape surrounding the school was jaw dropping. I love it but unfortunately not it¡¯s people.


    By people I meant it¡¯s student. Why? Why not!! So as you know your great boyfriend is five feet tall, and that means he is a dwarf. And dwarf don¡¯t sing nice songs or that ever get the freedom of peace, atleast not in most cases. So it began with my height I was shorter than all those hundreds of students. All other students were five feet something in other words taller than me. So I was an easy target.


    Omg I am deviating from the real theme of the story are you fine with that or do you want me to directly go to why I hate physics?


    Scarlet: Continue the story the way you already did,


    Pathum : So as the dwarf in winterfell I was bullied for my height. But they weren¡¯t so severe but still bullying is bullying and it is not fun being a central victim or the centre of mockery. So as you know this is a new school and we were the english medium class all other classes were native language Sinhala classes. Our class we had ten members from different schools. And the first day was fine except all other got ragged by seniors that day, I was the only lone survivor. I don¡¯t know whether ¡®ragged¡¯ is the correct word but it is how we call it here. I will explain what ¡®ragged¡¯ means it means the seniors taking fun of juniors. New students are kinda bullied or taken into mockery by the seniors and they think it¡¯s fun and it is a tradition that we should continue. I disagree it is something which must be abolished and terminated from existence. But who give a thing to what a dwarf has to say right? Hehe I won¡¯t disrespect me for your sake hehe.


    Scarlet : I am so sorry for what you had to go through Pathum. If I was there none of them would be able to do that for you. I kick their heads off if they ever try to make fun of you.


    Pathum : So why do I hate my friends? I mean I don¡¯t hate them but I dislikes them, not all ten but most of them and other students from other classes. So do you know what happened one day besides being ragged by seniors?


    Scarlet : What else?


    Pathum : I realised that my friends in A/level aren¡¯t so much like my O/level friends. Because they are two years older and they think they  know the world very well.


    Scarlet : Ugh sucks!


    Pathum : Do you know what¡¯s the first thing one of them asked me or us the first day? By we I mean I and my former bestfriend. Remember he was my bestie when i was at grade8 and 9. Now we are at grade 12. Why he¡¯s not my current bestie will be told in another story another day.


    Scarlet : Okay.


    Pathum : Guess what they asked the very first day? Hints; we already discussed similar topics. It¡¯s disgusting and embarrassing. Mostly embarrassing to say it.


    Scarlet : I don¡¯t want to guess it,


    Pathum : Comeon go ahead.


    Scarlet : Did you had s#x before?


    Pathum : Close.


    Scarlet : Not that? Gosh what could be it?!!


    Pathum : Did you guys mast#rbate?


    Scarlet : OMG! He did not asked that on the very first day?


    Pathum : Guess what?


    Scarlet : Mmm?


    Pathum : He had a big smile on his face when he asked that question as if he¡¯s asking for candy.


    Scarlet : What happened afterwards?


    Pathum : I ignored him completely but my former bestie laughed about it with his new friend. Yeah he already got a new friend and he gladly isolated me taking him in my place. That¡¯s fine. I was alone from the beginning of the new school, and part of me crave for new friendships and other part just enjoyed the isolation.


    Scarlet : I am sorry!


    Pathum : It¡¯s all good.


    Scarlet : it is not Pathum. I am so sorry.


    Pathum :  So that¡¯s how my first day went by. Okay now I will explain why I hated the physics period, not the sir exactly. He is a good person but with a humour that fits for most teenage boys not me, I don¡¯t like the jokes he make. I mean they are funny but only until you are the victim or the centre of the joke.


    Scarlet : I Get it, you don¡¯t like those inappropriate stuff that people think is funny but actually isn¡¯t.


    Pathum : Don¡¯t get me wrong I am not saying that I am allergic or hate sex, it¡¯s not that please don¡¯t misunderstand. I would love sex when we have it oneday but that doesn¡¯t mean I am going to share my private stuff with a group of horny perverts or with a prostitute. They call me ¡®gay¡¯ and all sort of terrible things just because I am not like them. Just because I don¡¯t support what they do or what the watch. Wrong is wrong no matter the extend of that pleasure. I am not saying that I am the most perfect boy in the world or that I haven¡¯t done a bad thing, unfortunately I have done mistakes but still I never supported their agendas. I never has and never will.


    Scarlet : You are absolutely right! I am proud of you and proud to call you my boyfriend. Don¡¯t ever forget that, you are a much better version than all those boys and teachers.


    Pathum : Okay back to the topic on why I hate physics period. Well it was oneday when it was the physics period, the teacher came in and went on with the teaching and suddenly( I don¡¯t remember the correct order of the questions but I am just translating them okay?)so suddenly the teacher asked me or someone else about purchasing a book and then everyone was like no and then he went on to ask what¡¯s my father¡¯s profession ,I said he is in abroad and then he said something which created a wave of laughter in the whole classroom. Can you guess what he said?


    Scarlet : I don¡¯t want to guess


    Pathum : What does your father do with his money? Pay for other women?


    Scarlet : That is so inappropriate and irrelevant .


    Pathum : everyone laughed as if he uttered the joke of the century. I remember looking at my former bestfriend he was like¡¯don¡¯t care the man¡¯s crazy¡¯ that was a relief. But all others were still laughing I wanted disappear and never face them again but such wishes never comes to life. Honestly do you find that joke funny? Completely no. But they find them worth to enjoy, when in truth they are just rubbish


    Scarlet : I am sorry, please unleash those burdens and have room for happiness. Would you?


    Pathum : You by my side I could withstand anything and there will always be a room for happiness when I have you.


    Scarlet : So that¡¯s how you started to hate physics teacher.


    Pathum : Physics period not the teacher.


    Scarlet : Right ,right.


    Pathum : Time to bed sweetie.


    Scarlet : But I don¡¯t want to leave you.


    Pathum : You never do, now sleep sweetie. I will focus on my studies until you come back.


    Scarlet : Pathum.


    Pathum : I am going to eat your butt if you don¡¯t.


    Scarlet : I¡¯d love that.


    Pathum : Me too if that hole puke candy.


    Scarlet : Heyyyyy language. Language!!


    Pathum : Ma¡¯am please go to sleep I gotta study or else it wouldn¡¯nt be me who¡¯s gonna eat your bunny.


    Scarlet : it¡¯s preserved only for one person and you know who that is.


    Pathum : Goodnight sweetie!

 Chapter 36

    Scarlet POV


    It is time to go to sleep, did all the prayers at church, we wont be attending the night prayers, so guess what? I get the chance to talk to my boy, isnt that just marvellous? So many questions. I should cease the number of questions that¡¯s upon me on a daily basis by me. Let alone the outside world¡¯s mercy.


    Annabelle ; hey scarlet I just gotta know something? Am I not your bestie?


    Scarlet ; well I got one you know, like I said my boy is my bestie, I am sorry annabelle you are a very good friend of mine but he is my boy, he has that spot.


    Annabelle ; your boy?


    Scarlet ; well  he is my boy..


    Annabelle ; is there something you are not revealing to me?


    Scarlet ; like what exactly?


    Annabelle ; like Pathum Nisansala! Who is he for you?


    Scarlet ; he is my bestie ! he is my boy and I love him, I love him a lot.


    Annabelle ; come on , scarlet he is not your bestie anymore isnt he? He is something more than that right ?


    Scarlet : Ofcourse he¡¯s my everything.


    Annabelle : Something more than right?


    Scarlet : My left side, my soul mate.


    Annabelle : are you sure you told me everything.


    Scarlet : Yes ma¡¯am.


    Annabelle : Comeon Scarlet, don¡¯t hide it just tell me already


    Scarlet ; cant hide anymore and don¡¯t need to hide anymore.


    Annabelle ; why didn¡¯t you told me this before?


    Scarlet ; I never got the chance, but I was waiting till the right moment.


    Annabelle ; Abigail told me that you both arent besties anymore, I didn¡¯t believed it until you started calling him your boy recently .


    Scarlet ; like I said you got me ! hehe!


    Annabelle ; hmm why didn¡¯t you told me this before? You know I deserve to know about it. Anyway..


    Scarlet ; I¡¯m sorry Annabelle ! there are somethings that I need to tell you about. I don¡¯t know what will happen afterwards.


    Annabelle ; like what ?


    Scarlet ; you know except Abigail you are the only one to know about this, and I need you to keep this as a secret.


    Annabelle ; ofcourse I will keep this as a secret but why are you being scared? Whats wrong? Tell me you don¡¯t have to be scared, I will keep my word, promise!


    Scarlet ; my mom doesnt know about our relationship, and we need to keep it that way for sometime, If mom get to know about our relationship we are in trouble.


    Annabelle ; whats wrong with your relationship?


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    Scarlet ; he is not christian. He is buddhist , so we have questions laid on faith.  Mom wants me to marry a christian, not else . so you see we do have a problem.


    Annabelle ; so are you fine that he is not a christian? That he doesnt love Jesus as much as you do .


    Scarlet ; he loves me more than anything annabelle and I think that is more important . he loves me , he always does.


    Annabelle : But if he doesn¡¯t love our lord isn¡¯t that already a red flag?


    Scarlet : No I DON¡¯T THINK SO!!!


    Annabelle : It doesn¡¯t make sense to me though if I am being honest.


    Scarlet : WhAT exactly isn¡¯t making sense to you?


    Annabelle : how come he claim to love you if he does not love god?


    Scarlet : How come his mother never left him?


    Annabelle: I am sorry what?


    Scarlet : How come his mother never left him?


    Annabelle : That¡¯s irrelevant isn¡¯t that so?


    Scarlet : Just answer my question.


    Annabelle: I don¡¯t know how she stayed with him.


    Scarlet : it¡¯s one word in the english dictionary.


    Annabelle : what is that?


    Scarlet: Love!


    Annabelle : I don¡¯t quite get it, what are you trying to say.


    Scarlet : His mother is not a christian but still she loves him despite the matter she have no idea who our lord is or despite the fact she doesn¡¯t love god does not limit her from loving her only child. Its love Annabelle. You may not understand it now but oneday you will and when you do you will realise the truth as it is. My boy doesn¡¯t have to love god inorder to be qualified to love me, he love me and he is being deadly honest. He doesn¡¯t want to fake it and marry me. He wants to be true to his reality and marry me. He may not love god but he loves me. And that¡¯s what matters. It doesn¡¯t matter whether he love god or not. He love me.


    Annabelle : God! I don''t know what else to say.


    Scarlet : You got nothing else to think or say. Just know he loves me so so much and that¡¯s all you ever need to know.


    Annabelle : I will leave you with this? Didn¡¯t you mother married your father despite him having no faith towards god and guess what their marriage didn¡¯t went as they planned. Just remember that.


    I felt so mad at her words. How come she disrespect my parents and most importantly disrespect Pathum? Rubbish !


    After talking for few more minutes she left for her chores and I didn¡¯t texted her as I was overwhelmed by her utter blindness. Just because my father failed doesn¡¯t mean Pathum would follow his path and end up like him. Such rubbish! I could have slapped her for this.


    Dear lord please enlighten them with some wisdom , will you please!


    Amen!


    I fell asleep afterwards. And in morning we were busy with chores. I helped washing the dishes with sister and we fell into that discussion quietly .


    ¡®¡¯ Did you told Annabelle about pathum? ¡®¡¯ I asked her directly.


    ¡®¡¯ I didn¡¯t.¡¯¡¯ she shook her head and contined washing.


    ¡®¡¯ she told me that you did.¡¯¡¯ I said bit suspiciously.


    ¡®¡¯ yeah but I didn¡¯t told her about your relationship I told her you guys might be in love , thats all I said. Whatcha she saying now?¡¯¡¯ Abigail looked at me ,with a dish in her hand.


    ¡®¡¯ nothing !I just told her we are indeed lovers.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ did that caused you any troubles?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ nope!¡¯¡¯ I said washing my hands .


    ¡°Okay?¡± she stared at me as if to referring to my instinct.


    ¡°She has a problem.¡± I said finally after few minutes of silence.


    She didn¡¯t said anything but kept glaring at my direction so I told her how she talked about mom and dad and about Pathum.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think she is wrong, not at all.¡± she said breaking eye contact.


    ¡°So you are okay with her disrespecting dad?¡± I asked sick and tired of her unusual behaviour.


    ¡°There¡¯s no point arguing with a truth is there scarlet?¡±


    ¡°Huh!¡± I exclaimed. She finished her work and left me without further notice or any words of excuse.


    Such a sister!


    I texted pathum, he was busy studying for his exam but whenever I text him he always replies. Yes it is true that he doesnt love Jesus as much as I do, but that don¡¯t matter he loves me and he will do anything for me, he might not have any faith towards god but he has a huge faith to me, thats all that matters.


    Pathum : I am so sorry for being a loser.


    Scarlet : You are not a looser.


    Pathum : I wish I could have some faith on god just like you do and to make you happy but that only would be a freaking lie if I claim that I have connection with god, because I don¡¯t. I am trying but still I never found it. For me buddhism makes more sense that any other religion. But the thing is I can be a buddhsit but also believe in god, there are no restrictions in Buddhism such as to not respect other religions. Infact lord buddha preached us to respect our old religion if we ever had one before buddhsim.


    Scarlet : Listening to you makes me wanna seek Buddhism more in depth for my spiritual path.


    Pathum : I will definetly help you.


    Scarlet : I know you will sweetie.

 Chapter 37

    Pathum POV


    Like scarlet said I might had to dig into my faith  and see where it lands or else we are in trouble. But I don¡¯t know I really wish that I know but I don¡¯t know, I love her and that is more important but I understand I need to have some faith as well. So talking about jesus and god I always admire the good qualities of god, I might not believe god, but I did prayed for him when mom got sick I did , I don¡¯t know whether I felt any power but I prayed for him, I tried to reach him, I don¡¯t doubt scarlet , I never doubted her its just I don¡¯t know what am I about. Maybe there is god or maybe there isnt any god . but does that really matter? Because I love her and I believe her, I pray for her and I pray for us, yes I might not have given my fullest faith but atleast I trust her and respect her. I allow god to be with us,I don¡¯t deny her, I think that is the most important thing.


    I hope that her mom will allow us to marry, I hope she will understand us, that our love is greater than whatever is around us, and that we are bound to be together. Forever . I believe that and scarlet believes that. Evenif her parents wouldn¡¯t allow or be pleased with us, we can¡¯t help but go against them. They will have to tame their egos to understand the reality in which me and scarlet sings.


    So I was studying biology unit4, I really am not that better when it comes to the study of plants but I am trying because I have to pass this exam, and then get a scholarship to America and then meet her and marry her , that is my ultimate dream. Can I really do it? I have so many doubts.


    Even this scholarship thing, I am aware it might be just not so true. Because I have never heard anyone passed A/LEVEL exam and directly got a foreign university scholarship, except that those who passed the exam gets access and qualified to study in an governmental university and then once that¡¯s completed then get a foreign degree chance and accordingly if that¡¯s how it is then we might have to spent around six years until I fly to AMerica. And six long years without her? Gosh that¡¯s a nightmare. How can I be so sure their family wouldn¡¯t take her away from me? Only god can help me here now. So i folded my hands and began praying.


    Dear god, please help me to get a schorship after this exam outright, don¡¯t make me stay away from her and even if I stayed please remember my word and protect her, all I ask you is protect her and keep her safe.


    Scarlet was still in church while I focused on my studies. Mom came to my room and gave me my tea,it was nice, morning tea is the best.


    ¡° how is she doing?¡¯¡¯ mom asked while taking some biscuits from the box. Biscuits box.


    ¡®¡¯ she is doing alright ¡®¡¯ I replied to her while taking a sip at my tea.


    ¡®¡¯ how is her studies?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ its alright.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ how is yours?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ its alright too!¡¯¡¯


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she touched my hand and glared at my soul.


    ¡°Nothing.¡± I said. I cannot reveal anything to her just yet. I ought to keep her happy not sad.


    ¡°I know something¡¯s bothering you, go ahead and tell me. You know you can tell me anything son¡± she rested her arms on my face and kept looking at me. I shook my head and told her is was nothing she need to worry. But she insisted and unfortunately I lost my temper and hurt her in the process.


    ¡°Just tell me what¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked for the final time and I exploded at her.


    ¡°Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. For fuck¡¯s sake nothing. Just leave me alone.¡±


    She was dumbfounded. She stood there with tears in her eyes and slowly picked my cup and walked away but I jumped and grabbed her hand and hugged her outright.


    ¡°I am so sorry mother, I am so sorry. I never meant to say those words.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright! I will go, I will leave your business to you and not put my finger on it.¡±


    ¡°Mom don¡¯t talk like that. Please I already lost one mom and I don¡¯t want to loose the most important person in my life now.¡±


    ¡°The most important person? Huh? Sounds like that girl isnt that so right?¡± she wiped her tears thinking I was referring to Scarlet.


    ¡°Its you mom. Its you!¡±


    It has always been you, the only difference now is that there¡¯s a new member in that list.


    ¡°What about scarlet? My angel?¡± mom asked me, her tears slowly fading away and a smile crept on both of us. My heart sang a beautiful anthem when mom referred to my baby girl as her angel.


    Her angel? How cute is my mom.


    ¡°Both of you are on that list.¡± I said in defence.


    ¡°What about your father?¡± she raised her brows.


    ¡°He¡¯s on that list too.¡±


    ¡°Grandma?¡±


    ¡°She too!!¡± I smiled


    ¡°Now son, tell me what¡¯s the problem?¡± she said cupping my facewith her hands, I let her sit beside me as I sought for courage. But my poor weak self fail do so.


    ¡°Uh..¡± I began scratching my head. She raised her brows and raised her hand gesturing me to continue. I tried but I couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ uhh.. Scarlet.¡± I forced to look at my feet unable to look mom in the eye.


    ¡°Son tell me what¡¯s wrong? Did you fought with her just like you fight with me?¡± the moment she asked me I felt my feet got paralysed or numb. When she bring that topic that way it freaking hurts. I never fought mom intentionally. I never want to harm my mom. Never but to hell with my anger issues those noble desires all get abolished.


    ¡°No mother you know I love you why do you speak that way, you know I love you more than anything. I never wanted to hurt you it¡¯s just my anger issues.¡±


    She hugged me and kissed my forehead. It cooled my whole body and relaxed my nerves though my body still shivered. I always stutter and shiver when it¡¯s about something important.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine mother.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Uhh.. I don¡¯t know how to explain.¡±


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    ¡°You said something about loosing a mother, does that mean they are against your relationship?¡± Mom asked me and I shivered at her guess being perfectly right.


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°I am your mother and I am not a ten year old, I know the intentions of people very well.¡±


    ¡°But why would they do that?¡±


    ¡°For love son.¡±


    ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to know how many are against your relationship I just want to know whether she is with you or not.¡± She asked me glaring at my face, stern and righteous in her state of mind. So without further I explained the state of scarlet.


    ¡°She¡¯s with me.¡± I said sounding confident.


    ¡°End of conversation.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s with you right? She will stand by your side evenif the world crumbles around you right?¡± I shook my head in approval.


    ¡°That¡¯s all you need to know, so stop worrying, she¡¯s going to stay with you all her life, so now study or else you would never get to touch that big butt of hers.¡±


    Her Butt? How did mom know-


    I mean how? Mom? Seriously!!


    I looked away blushing. Why did mom has to bring the conversation with her butt? Whatever her butt has magic, I mean Scarlet¡¯s. Everytime her butt comes into conversation I am blushing like a girl. It reminded me of that book I read of Eckhart tolle ¡®the power of now.¡¯ I rename that as ¡®the power of scarlet¡¯s butt.¡¯ No other butt mattered to me but hers. Hers only. Hehe. i kinda think I am funny,


    Poor you!


    Shut up! Scarlet says I¡¯m funny that¡¯s enough


    But your friends say the contrary don¡¯t they?


    Who give a f888k about them?!


    Excuse my language. If Scarlet heard them she would burn me alive. Hehe.


    Pathum : You wouldn¡¯t believe what happened just now.


    Scarlet : Omg! tell me tell me.


    I told her everything from hurting mom due to anger and her words of wisdom about Scarlet and big butt of hers.


    Scarlet : My question: how does she know I got a bug butt?


    Pathum : bug butt? What in the booty is that?


    Scarlet : Big butt? How does she know that?


    Pathum : Cause she isn¡¯t blind?


    Scarlet : But how does she know that you are obsessed with mine?


    Pathum : She never said that.


    Scarlet : She didn¡¯t but I did.


    Pathum : I am not obsessed with your butt Scarlet.


    Scarlet : Take a picture of that blushing face of yours, it will speak volumes about the truth.


    Pathum : Gosh I feel so embarrassed.


    Scarlet : The power of a butt.


    Pathum : Scarlet¡¯s butt, my baby girl¡¯s.


    Scarlet : ahem. I am so proud. *wink emoji*


    Pathum : But anyway I AM NOT OBSESSED WITH YOUR BUTT OKAYYYYY?


    Gosh is she roasting me? If so she can bake a bread from me cause I am bloody roasted right now.


    Scarlet : Why not look in the mirror.


    Pathum : And why would I need to do that?


    Scarlet : To see your face.


    Pathum : You are roasting me aren¡¯t you?


    Scarlet : Hehehe!


    Pathum : Go away I hate you!


    Scarlet : I love you!


    Pathum : A lie! A cold blooded lie!


    Scarlet : Huh? Seriously?


    Pathum : Yes *angry emoji*


    Scarlet : Aww sweetie why would you doubt my love?


    Pathum : Because if you really love me then you would grant my dearest wish.


    Scarlet : And that is?...


    Pathum : My obsession.


    Scarlet : Hmm¡­ less demand, less attention.


    Pathum : Seriously scarlet!!!!!! Please my goddess scarlet baker please grant me my wish.


    Scarlet : First admit.


    Pathum : Admit?


    Scarlet : That you are obsessed with my booty!


    Pathum : I already did. Didn¡¯t I ma¡¯am?


    Scarlet :  Gimme 5 minutes I will grant your wish.


    Pathum : OMG ! Are you seriously gonna one? Woah!


    Five minutes god she seriously gonna send her cake


    Even Though she said she needed five minutes she took almost thrice the amount. I mean quality stuff do take time don¡¯t they?


    Really?


    Scarlet : So¡­ are you ready?


    Pathum : Ma¡¯am it¡¯s been TWENTY MINUTES!


    Scarlet: Sorry, something got stuck between my butt while taking them so yeah.


    Seriously gosh !


    She¡¯s hella funny even without trying.


    Pathum : Was it my boy? He can¡¯t fly though so it can¡¯t be him.


    Scarlet : Dragons can indeed fly. So I think he just did.


    Pathum : SCARLET BAKER YOU ARE BLOODY FUNNY AND THAT IS JUST AMAZING!


    Scarlet : Hehe I hope you like them, sorry I had to take like a hundred before saving the best for you.


    Pathum : Thank you so much! They are BLOODY AMAZING, without a question THE BEST BUTTT IN THE WORLD.


    Scarlet : I didn¡¯t even send the picture yet.


    Pathum : You don¡¯t have to, I know it¡¯s the perfect cake!


    Scarlet : Pathum!!!!!! CAKE? Language boy!


    Pathum : Hehehe


    And the next thing she did was granting my wish.


    Goodness gracious!! She just freaking did not send it!


    How the fuck is that human?! Freaking god!


    Excuse me for my language, but something weird is happening to my body right now.


    Would my words do a better justice or a picture?


    I didn¡¯t wait any longer, took one and outright surprised my lady.


    Scarlet : PATHUM! WHAT IS THAT? DON¡¯T TELL ME THAT IT¡¯S YOUUURSSS


    Pathum : You know the answer so well don¡¯t you?! *smirk emoji*


    Scarlet : You wouldn¡¯t believe what¡¯s happening to my body Pathum!


    Pathum : Same here ma¡¯am!!


    Scarlet : Oh god !!!


    Pathum : So tell me how¡¯s the picture?.... Is it good or ¡­..


    Scarlet : My nipples got turned on just looking at your boy.


    Pathum : Ahem..*coughs clears throat* My dragon! He deserve your respect ma¡¯am.


    Scarlet : Your precious dragon!!!


    Pathum : Wait hold on¡­. You said your nip¡­ get turned on? WHaaaattt? How ?


    Scarlet : Ask your boy-... sorry ask your dragon the spell he puts on.


    Pathum : So your booby got turned on just seeing the picture?


    Scarlet : OH YES !!!


    Pathum : What else got turned on? Your pancreas? Gosh if a picture does magic for both of us imagine the heat when we really met.


    Scarlet : Can¡¯t wait until that day comes true!

 Chapter 38

    Scarlet POV


    LIFE IS FUNNY AND with him its all jolly. We spent the last remaining weeks of corona lockdown as efficient as we can. Me and him all day, I cant ever spent a single day without him, I thank god for bringing him into my life. He is truly a gift of god.


    My family ,they loved him , and he loved us and we were so happy but now the contrary dictates us. My family no longer see as a piece of me but as a threat for us.


    I got up from bed and we had our morning tea, Pathum continued his studies while I did some chores and sat for some family discussion, mom arranged the discussion .


    ¡° so while dad is busy with his work I do like to have some family talk, because I think it is very important to have one.¡¯¡¯ mom said sitting at the sofa and asking us to sit down.


    ¡° you know scarlet we have something to do with you and your life. I ,as your mother and she, as your sister we are concerned about your life, and we think that we need to take the right decisions to allow you to be well.¡¯¡¯ mom said looking at my sister and then both giving their attention towards me.


    ¡®¡¯ ofcourse mama, I understand. Thank you so much for your concern.¡¯¡¯ I smiled and they didn¡¯t. I felt something is not right.


    ¡° your teacher said your grades are going down and you have been sleeping in the classes, that is not something we expected from you. You are a good enthusiastic girl, you don¡¯t live like that, you cannot live like that.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ oh I am sorry mom, I promise to do better, I promise to do better.¡¯¡¯ I repeated my words but neither of them gave any attention to me, they were only concerned with what they have to say.


    ¡®¡¯ well dear we are so worried about you .¡¯¡¯ mom touched my hand and looked me in the eye, something  just not alright. Something about to come that doesn¡¯t feel right.


    ¡®¡¯ I understand mom.¡¯¡¯ I replied.


    ¡®¡¯ no you don¡¯t!¡¯¡¯ Abigail interrupted


    ¡®¡¯ what do you mean I don¡¯t?¡¯¡¯ I asked.


    ¡®¡¯ we think , I think you need to take a rest from all of this, you need shut your phone and be with yourself close to god, you understand?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ I cant stay away from my phone mom, how else can I contact him?¡¯¡¯


    ¡® you don¡¯t need to contact him, just give him a break and let him be alone and you focus on you, you know? A break would do real good on both of you ¡®¡¯


    I don¡¯t understand what mom is trying to say, but nevertheless I am not going to abandon him


    ¡®¡¯ I am sorry mom  but I cant help it, I cannot let him stay without me, he needs my help, he needs me and I need him.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ so you are not worried about your grades? You don¡¯t wanna do anything about it ? you don¡¯t wanna uplift your family over a single boy who is miles away from you or who is never going to be with you.¡¯¡¯


    Thats it! Nobody disrespect my boy . they just need to know their limits.


    ¡°he is not just a boy, he is everything to me, I would never leave him, never, my grades got nothing to do with him.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ thats what you think, but we know he is responsible to your downfall.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ my downfall? What are you talking about mom are you insane?¡¯¡¯


    What rubbish are they are talking about?


    ¡®¡¯ mind your tongue Scarlet, she is your mom.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ your mind yours Abigail, I aint lecturing you to stay away from the most important person in your life, so don¡¯t be my mom , don¡¯t try to boss me you aint getting a single piece of it.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ whatever scarlet! , I told you so mom.¡¯¡¯ she got up from her seat and was about to leave.


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    ¡°told what?¡¯¡¯ anger building in me as I gathered my words .


    ¡®¡¯ that you are not going to give up on your precious boy, that no matter how hard we try you are blind to see your downfall.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ screw you and the damn downfall. You folks are nuts just leave me alone.¡¯¡¯ I got up from my seat and started to walk towards my room, mom did tried to touch me but I shrug her and moved fast to my room and slammed the door. It was quiet I could hear my breathing , they didn¡¯t spoke a word about it afterwards, and they didn¡¯t tried to come into my room either. They better not cause I¡¯m going to kill them if they do . how in earth did they got those ideas? Why they jump into such conclusions? I don¡¯t understand I just don¡¯t. how can he be responsible to any of this?  My grades and gosh why? Whats wrong with mom?


    We didn¡¯t had any conversations for a week or so , slowly they began to talk to me and I became to be okay with it, I cant forgive them for ever thinking about separating me and my boy. We did talked the whole week like we always do. And our bond got stronger and stronger. I don¡¯t see him as the slightest reason for my downfall but I see my own family the major and the only reason for my downfall if there is a downfall. Screw that word!


    Another week went by and things were as calm as they were. So we got into this discussion when Annabelle and Abigail made a group chat on google hangouts and invited me to it.


    Scarlet; hey annabelle whats this about?


    Annabelle ; a group to discuss some important matter with you both.


    Scarlet ; with me and my sister?


    Annabelle ; it is me and abigail for you.


    Scarlet ¡®; oh okay, so what do you wanna know about me that you already not known or whatcha wanna advice me about?


    Annabelle ; you need to stay out from Pathum, we think he is just not the right person for you, getting rid of him is the best thing you can do for your well being. don¡¯t get mad just try to see our reasoning. Just give room and clearly observe these things we have to say for you. don¡¯t let emotions control you , if you let your emotions be the master you shall soon face a huge crisis. Something your whole life couldn¡¯t turn around, and we don¡¯t want that to happen for you.


    Scarlet ; oh Annabelle don¡¯t even start this conversation. It will not end on good terms, mom and sis tried before and the damage has not slowed down yet. You trying to take me out of his life is just a risk, you don¡¯t wanna mess with it don¡¯t ever think I will listen to your preaching . don¡¯t ever. This is a useless conversation, lets just leave.


    Annabelle ; you are in love with him scarlet .


    Scarlet ; so ?


    Abigail ; so you are blind, blind to see the truth .


    Scarlet ; what truth?


    Abigail ; that he is just an toxic person to you, he is toxic to everyone around him. We need to get rid of him now before he causes load of troubles, he is the reason you are loosing your sleep,  your grades, your faith and your whole life. Just try to understand us, we don¡¯t wanna cause any harm to you, we love you from the bottom of ours hearts and there is no joy in seeing you break apart we just wanna help you out and rescue you from a irreversible downfall. Join us and see the truth to yourself, you know nothig about this boy, he is miles away from you , he could be cheating you, he could be doing anything and he would lie to you, but you don¡¯t know that, he don¡¯t let you sleep 8 hours he always keep talking and don¡¯t even let you have a proper sleep. Your grades are down and thats all because of him, you have focused more on him rather than studies. You see now your downfall?


    Scarlet ; you guys are wrong about him, you guys have misunderstood him, he is not an toxic person he is a good person and he is not a liar. He speaks the truth. I believe him and I trust him. Trust him than anyone else.


    Abigail ; he need to grow up , look at the way he behaves, he is so childish too worried about things and cant even handle a single thing, he needs some attention. He is like a baby, crying and acting like a 10 year old, he is too sensitive and gosh look he doesnt even look attractive, he is just useless.


    Scarlet ; stop this.


    Annabelle ; listen to us, please


    Scarlet ; any of you say one more word about him, it will be the last time we would talk, I can easily forget that I had two sisters, easily. So lets end this here and don¡¯t ever talk about him in this way, ever.


    They didn¡¯t talked much afterwards , I left the group and deleted the messages. I had to forget all what they said. Everything they said are false. Freak them all. God please help me cope with this . how could my sister say such things about him, she is such a rude person , my boy doesnt deserve to be treated like that.


    Please lord hear my prayers, please show them the true reality of Pathum. Please tell them the truth convince them the reality.


    Amen!


    I told him everything later that night, it was painful but I didn¡¯t mentioned everything they said about him, he would get so hurt , heck I wont let him be hurt, no god I cant allow that to happen.

 Chapter 39

    Pathum POV


    Scarlet told me everything , I understand them, they were just trying to protect her. That''s a good thing but in an wrong aspect of it. They are trying to protect scarlet in their own ways , they think I am bad person, that is fine too, what can I do about it but weep? And weeping is just an sign of weakness they say. Covid is slightly getting better and the bad news that come from it is I will have to go school again I will have to meet my friends after 6 long months of school break I will finally have to go school and also I will have to stay away from scarlet which is the most difficult thing to do .


    I don¡¯t want to go school. Never with those filthy basturds. Hehe . I mean my lovely friends.


    If lovely meant pain in the butt


    Also I will have to let them know , let one or two of my friends about scarlet. I will try to avoid MANY PEOPLE GETTING TO KNOW ABOUT HER. Eventhough I have an idea with whom I might share the story I would still avoid the majority crowd. I have to protect scarlet. If I told everyone about scarlet they would want to know about her everything and might seek her pictures and I don¡¯t want them to keep her pictures.


    I mean I trust some of them but still you never know the mystery of their minds, they could go berserk and it wouldn¡¯t be a pleasant gift that remain as the harvest of what i sow.


    Honestly I don¡¯t want to go school. I mean to get up early and dress and then go out there with people and most of all leave Scarlet alone, that¡¯s literal hell.


    Pathum ; hey , Monday there will be school. I hate that. Hate it so so much. I don¡¯t wanna leave you ??????


    Scarlet ; I hate it too cause I am going to be having my school too . I hate that I have to spent time living without you.


    Pathum ; crap crap crap why does we have to suffer like that ? we don¡¯t deserve the pain we go through.


    Scarlet ; exactly sweetie


    Pathum ; you know I forgot to mention , there will be an book fair and I might get the chance to go there, If I get the chance I am going to buy more books.


    Scarlet ; good for you sweetie


    Pathum ; you are going to have some tough days without me isnt it so?


    Scarlet ; I am not the only one,so let¡¯s take this test of god as a good approach and claim our victory.


    Pathum : We will win this too, just like all our past incidents.


    Scarlet : Very true sweetie. I will miss you so badly.


    Pathum : Me too sweetie!


    Scarlet : What¡¯s it¡¯s like going school after 6 months of lockdown ?


    Pathum : I mean I dunno. It will be odd I guess, I would ask the same from you.


    Scarlet : Strange!


    Pathum : Mysterious!


    Scarlet : Will tell your friends about me?


    Pathum : Only few.


    Scarlet : Why is that? You are ashamed of me? That a girl like me is your girlfriend?


    Pathum : Ashamed is far from who you are to me. The reason I would reveal about you to few is because that¡¯s the number I trust. And a girl like you should be protected at all cost and I abide and follow those principles of protecting you. I would not want anybody harming you, so that¡¯s why I am not going to reveal much about you.


    Scarlet : I know it sweetie that¡¯s one of the reason why I love you so much, I adore and admire those qualities of yours.


    Pathum : So what about you? Will you speak about me to your friends?


    Scarlet : I don¡¯t think I could trust them Pathum.


    Pathum : Or is it that you are ashamed of having a mentally disabled dwarf as your partner?


    Scarlet : If I was right there, I would have printed all five fingers of my hand on your cheeks. Don¡¯t you ever disrespect my boy, ever. It doesn¡¯t matter what I don¡¯t want anybody to harm him. No disrespecting my child.


    Pathum : But didn¡¯t I just spoke of the truth? I am short, I have a overthinking mind and I am ugly.


    Scarlet : So am I .


    Pathum : That is far from the truth. Look at you, you look so beautiful and cute, you have an nice accent, you are fair, you are blessed like an angel, you are smart and everything else a person could wish for.


    Scarlet : So are you!


    Pathum : Am I really?


    Scarlet : Yes sweetie you are.


    Pathum : OMG! Thank you so so much!


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    Scarlet : You¡¯re very welcome! Don¡¯t ever forgot them alright? Always keep them in your mind when I AM NOT HERE TO TELL THEM.


    Pathum ;Aww!!! ???? I love you


    Scarlet ; I love you more


    Pathum ; are you sad ?


    Scarlet ; no I am not . why do you ask ?


    Pathum ; because I am your boyfriend , I want to make sure you are well. I want to make sure that you are doing well and that you are happy. I know that your family hasn¡¯t been treating you well and I am so sorry for all the pain you have to go through just because of me. I am so sorry scarlet I wish I could be there now so that I could hug you and make those weight go away from you. Just know if I was there I wouldn¡¯t let you go through that pain, I¡¯d take them on.


    Scarlet ; I know that you care about me sweetie but you need to take care of yourself too, have some rest and eat some food, because you go through a lot just like me, and you have to be strong, you are my boy  and I want you to be strong. I trust you no matter what my family says I know you are the very best person to me, I know that you are the exact person.


    Pathum : Thank you so much ??


    So Monday morning came in a snap, I got up at 4 am and bath out in the cold , the bath was cold and I didn¡¯t liked it either but I have no choice its my habit to wash and bath before I go somewhere so I have to follow my rituals or else there will be troubles. So I got dressed said goodbye to scarlet and mom. The bus arrived at 6 am and by 7 am I was at school it was a new experience there were taps everywhere we have to wash our hands before going into the class I washed my hands and applied hand sanitizer so that virus wont get me , I also enjoy the mask I¡¯m wearing, heard people criticizing that mask is a trouble but I love the mask. It help me be away from the world it covers my face so it is kinda LIKE a defence, you know imagine you were in a bus and a guy spoke and some of his saliva got in to your face that will be disturbing right?


    But when you do have a mask its the other way around his saliva wont be in your face so you see its kinda like a protection and its really good to have a mask you get good air and also it helps with corona. I kinda wonder do I have a disease because I wash too much I spent like 2 minute washing the hands once I came to school. I don¡¯t know but whatever it is I don¡¯t mind I have an angel taking care of me. She¡¯ll help me figure it out as well.


    Anyway we discussed about the trip we are about to go , well that is not a trip , its a ride to book fair , Colombo international book fair , WE SCHEDULED THIS COMING FRIDAY to the journey, so that will be very interesting to have some books and smell them haha, its always awesome. But to stay away from her is the most difficult thing.


    So me and my former best friend Kamal fell into a conversation , it was about scarlet,


    ¡° so tell me everything how did you both met? Was it instagram? Or wattpad? Man tell me everything.


    ¡° okay I will.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ great!¡¯¡¯ kamal clapped.


    ¡®¡¯ So we met on wattpad 6 months ago on march 13th and it was the start of our relationship. So it started with her thanking me for the follow and it was 2 hearts and then 3 hearts by me and then we asked for read for read ,she and I both read each others book and gave the respective comment on the books , she was delighted so was I . so we started talking with each other about our differences and culture and country so we spent like 2 weeks on wattpad and then she invited me to an app named google hangouts well there we talked and shared our photos , we also got into google photos there we were able to exchange many pictures about us and we got to know each other quite well. So then we got to know the family members and they talked with each other like my mom with her mom and her mom with me and else our relationship grew stronger. Things were fine and healthy , it was nice. We also talked in an app called Marco polo there we shared video clips of our selves and that was better, we also video chat, we talked for hours and hours and we didn¡¯t stop, I enjoyed talking to her and she did the same. And 6 months later here we are.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ wow thats an amazing story ! ¡®¡¯ he said smiling.


    ¡®¡¯ please don¡¯t share it with others, they don¡¯t need to know About this just yet.¡¯¡¯ I said.


    ¡®¡¯ you got it boss, its your privacy I wont blame you..¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ its not a bloody privacy matter, it is just I want to protect her and I don¡¯t want anybody stalking her.¡¯¡¯ I told him as we made our way to the class room. Ignoring other classmates.


    ¡®¡¯ I understand I wont speak this to anybody I promise.¡¯¡¯


    It was a normal school day , but until I met an accident in the bus on my way home, I contacted someone else armpit Eww disgusting! but true it is disgusting, I didn¡¯t mean to touch that mans armpit but I accidently contacted there and that ruined my entire day , so I came home threw my bag to the bed made sure that contacted arm wouldnt touch the bed and so I went near the tap and washed my hands and washed them very well , applied so many soap and washed them afterwards dried my hands and then applied hand sanitizer, so that it would kill any remaining germ or dirt of that man.


    You know my thinking is quite absurd, I think too much about things and I don¡¯t know whats wrong with me . soon after the bath I texted scarlet , I made sure my hands are clean as well as my body so I bathed well, and yet it is true that I bath at 4 am and now at 4pm after school 12 hours of pain and now finally I have the freedom but my happiness wont last long because scarlet has to go school as well so she will get up in few minutes and then  get ready to go to school.


    I texted scarlet , and she got up few minutes later and I told her everything about school and the armpit case and how much I suffered from it, so she has done her research and came to the conclusion that I have an disease named OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder , and these incidents just proved that. You know I am quite glad that we was able to figure out what is wrong with me. But that should remain as a secret , just I informed mom about this and no other friends, when did I ever had friends any way ? When I told mom she was both concerned and frustrated and sad. Concerned about her son, sad that I am suffering and frustrated that I keep framing myself as a mental boy. She loathed those words, if she would have slapped I would have lost all my tooth due to her fury. But am I wrong? Ain¡¯t I a mentally disabled boy? Who cannot handle himself and his daily life.


    5 days later we were on our way to the Colombo international book fair, it is the biggest book fair in the country and I am participating in it for the 2nd time and it was very interesting I bought 10 books , well more than 10 I bought some number of books , I loved every second of it, I don¡¯t know but it is life, I don¡¯t enjoy the company with friends that much but I do enjoy these books and later how I would be able to read them and share the stories with scarlet, she always loved hearing stories from  me especially my voice. I did marco polos regarding the book I got and she was over the moon .


    Isn''t she so innocent?


    I just love this girl so much and I wont let any harm happen to my sweetie.


    She stood for me when her own kind said her not to, she never betrayed me and for all of that I will protect her and give the best life I possibly can give her. No matter what the haters say , they can sing their anthem all day if they want but there is nothing that is going to stop me from  loving my innocent girl. I just wanna kiss my baby girl so bad haha.


    Gosh ! Too much of day dreaming huh?!


    And make her feel like she deserve the whole world because god she deserves.


    Dear god, I am sorry for my inconsistent prayers, I wish I was drawn to you more than I am now but I just can¡¯t. I never said you didn¡¯t exist or neither said you do but all I know is I am thankful for the gift you gave me ; my dear baby girl Scarlet. What more could I ask for?! She¡¯s my everything and thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing her into my life. I promise I will take good care of her.


    Amen!

 Chapter 40

    Scarlet POV


    Few days ago we discovered that pathum has OCD . that he is diagonised with it and I did everything possible to find out ways to clear him out of it, I found ways and among them is therapy , he needs therapy and he states that I am his best therapist and that as long as I am with him he will be fine no matter what. Thats no true, eventhough he claims that I do a good job helping him , I really don¡¯t I only mess things up at sometimes but he still insist that as long as I am with him things shall be good.


    God is with him , I know he don¡¯t go to church or anything but he still prays at night and most importantly believes in me, he might not have faith in god but he do have faith in me. Thats all that matter.


    Please dear lord help him fight this obsessive compulsive disorder. Please eliminate that disease from him. Free him and guide him for the righteous of paths and give him his happiness. I know he claim his happiness is me but still I think by being free from this disorder will mean the world for him. Ploease I beg you my lord.


    I got up from my bed and texted him but he didn¡¯t responded back as soon as I expected him to . I don¡¯t know why but it has been 30 minutes since I texted him but there is no response I tried to call but there was no response. Right an hour later,


    Pathum ; hey sorry I was late.


    Scarlet ; is everything alright sweetie?


    Pathum ; no sweetie I had an accident.


    Scarlet ; whats wrong?


    Pathum ; this freaking washing sweetie


    Scarlet ; please tell me , I will help you


    Pathum ; I got contact with someone else, it was an accident, I was just moving by and he was carrying the woods and I contacted his back there were some sweat in his back disgusting I got contact with them , I am so sick , I washed my hands many times I washed hands I don¡¯t know,  like 1hour 20 minutes , imagine and 1 hour 20 minutes washing hands from 3 pm to 4 : 20 p.m and then I decided to go to bath and thats why it took me so late to comeback.


    Scarlet; sweetie aint those sweat going to hurt you. You don¡¯t have to be scared, you washed them perfectly fine.


    Pathum ; I am sick and tired and when I mean sick I really am sick if you look at my hands you will see how much I suffered, my hands one colour and my body another colour, why do I have to suffer like this sweetie? What crime have I done? Please tell god I cant do this anymore.


    Scarlet ; sweetie I am so sorry I wish I could be there for you, if I was there nothing bad would happen to you, but unfortunately our lives are separated.


    Pathum ; we will soon be together, I will pass my exam and get a scholarship and we shall be good. All our problems will go away.


    I hope that day be any sooner, I cant wait I am very impatient. I cant wait to wrap my arms around him and cuddle, thats all I want , all my problems will go away and I will be fine.


    Scarlet : I can¡¯t wait until that day.


    Pathum : Me either!


    Scarlet : God thinking about that moment brings goosebumps.


    Pathum : Do you know what¡¯s the first thing I would do when we meet?


    Scarlet : Kiss me?


    Pathum : Kiss your forehead.


    Scarlet : Aww! How sweet!


    Pathum : What would you do when we meet?


    Scarlet : Kick your balls.


    Pathum : OMG what the heavens! What did I do to deserve that?


    Scarlet : For torturing me at sleepless nights, for that hot body of yours, for the distance between us and many more.


    Pathum : Honestly tell me what¡¯s the first thing you would do when our eyes met?


    Scarlet : I have no idea Pathum. I might pass out, who knows.


    Pathum : For god sake and being realistic, I think I would be the one to pass out because that has happened to me in my past.


    Scarlet : You never told me.


    Pathum : It was in 2018 december.


    Scarlet : What was the event? Meeting your crush?


    Pathum : My exam, my O/LEVEL exam.


    Scarlet : Oh interesting, but what is O/level ?


    Pathum : Oh I got some explaining to do, give me a minute.


    Scarlet : Hehe


    Paathum : So in Sri lanka there are few common exams which every student who does their studies related to the local syllabus face. One of them is O/level exam which is written by students of grade 11, o/level stands for ordinary level exam. Its the first majoy exam. And there are nine subjects and if we pass them on a high note we can enter into a good school. So I wrote my exam back in 2018 december. And my scores are A4,B3 &C3 for the 9 subjects. I hope you know what A,b ,c stands for. Above 75 marks is an A pass, above 65 marks is a B pass and above 55 is a C pass. So yeah that¡¯s the story. I faced the exam and did it successfully.


    But I just moved out of the main topic so let me get back into the real conversation. I told you I passed out on the first day right? Yes I did. The first day of my O/level exam. Well I will explain what happened. So as you know my school or my first school was a private school and the general common exams are not held in private schools so we have to transfer to the nearest school which we did. So it was around I dunno like 7 A.m and I walked with my mother my friends had already arrived and also there were other students from other private schools and the students of that school as well. The place was crowded with students and parents. Most boys were alone unlike me, since I am a baby my mother had to accompany me.


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    So once we arrived there I didn¡¯t spoke any word with anyone just smiled I guess. My former best friend even laughed at me and said look at you, you look scared. It was true I was scared because eventhough I studied I was not confident about it. After few minutes of arrival I started to walk but I felt my body not responding to me, I tried to walk left but my body drifted towards the right, realising something wrong I immediately grabbed mom¡¯s hand and told her what¡¯s wrong and soon we walked away from that spot and walked towards the vehicle which took us, the driver was a uncle we know so he was friendsly and helped us. I ate string hoppers and slowly regained my strength and it subsided . So that¡¯s my story of passing out. You have to remember I walked the distance from where I was to where to vehicle was grabbing mom¡¯s hand and eventhough I had her arm I was still shaking and floating.


    Scarlet : You are such a story teller.


    Pathum : Thanks sweetie.


    Scarlet : So how was the exam? What was the subject the first day?


    Pathum : Religion and for me it was Buddhism. And it was worst that I anticipated.


    Scarlet : OMG why?


    Pathum : Becuase I messed it up and I thought I would¡¯nt even get a S pass, which is a pass given for above 35 marks,which is the lowest grade.


    Scarlet : And what did you got?


    Pathum : Guess! Hehe


    Scarlet : I have no idea but since you mentioned your cute ¡®hehe¡¯ i supposed it was a good mark despite you panicking.


    Pathum : True! Very true!


    Scarlet : Yeah hoo!! What was it?


    Pathum : A freaking ¡®A¡¯ pass, which means above 75 marks. I was totally flabbergasted when the results came out, I couldn¡¯nt believe my eyes hehe.


    Scarlet : Wow! Congratulations!


    Pathum : Thanks sweetie!


    Scarlet : You amazing you know that?


    Pathum : Not as much as you though. Hehe !!


    Scarlet : Pathum!! Stop giving me credits.


    Pathum : THat would be on the day the I am lying on a casket.


    Scarlet : I don¡¯t want to see you there, I would never, I could never look down at you.


    Pathum : Don¡¯t you worry about such, I would never leave you alone.


    Scarlet : I could never live without you.


    Pathum : Eventhough I wouldn¡¯t be there physically, I will always be there with you spiritually. I mean forever in your heart wouldn¡¯t I right?!


    Scarlet : I know sweetheart! I know!!


    Pathum : Alongside my children, our children.


    Scarlet : Pathum don¡¯t make me emotional.


    Pathum : Hehe


    Scarlet : Please I cannot do this.


    Scarlet don¡¯t start it, for god sake don¡¯t cry


    Pathum : I am sorry did I do something wrong? I am sorry did I made you sad? I was just saying what I felt, what I think necessary. Oneday we all have to go and if I am the one to go first I want you to remember that I love you so much and I regret nothing that I committed for you and I am glad of my commitments and would do them again if need come for you. And if we are both lucky then we would have a precious angel who would resemble his/her mother and I am pretty sure that that angel will love you so much and I am so sure that you¡¯ll take good care of her/him.


    Scarlet : But nooo¡­.


    Pathum : I have to say something important, it just came into my mind.


    Scarlet : Pathum I don¡¯t want to cry more.


    Pathum : I want you to know that I love you and that it is the truth. But you need to remember that I loved you, I fell first in love with your heart not your body. And forever I will cherish the taste of your heart. So the thing I wanted to tell you is if I suddenly get silent or stop texting you, just remember that it only means one thing.


    Scarlet : And that is¡­


    Pathum : That I am forever gone (physically).


    Scarlet : I just hope I¡¯ll be the first to go so that I would¡¯nt have to bear that burden.


    Pathum : So you fine with me suffering from your absence?


    Scarlet : Pathum that¡¯s not what I meant


    Pathum : I know! I know!


    Scarlet : ??


    Pathum : Please if I am gone before we could ever meet just forget me and live a happy life with whoever your heart desires.


    Scarlet : Pathum there¡¯s only one person that my heart desires and it¡¯s you sweetheart.


    Pathum : But sweetie you cannot waste your life just because you loved me.


    Scarlet : What would you do if I am gone before we meet?


    Pathum : Most likely to never marry anyone, I am hundred percent sure that I would not love someone else. Even if my heart desires for another I would not let that happen.


    Scarlet : But that¡¯s not fair.


    Pathum : That¡¯s called loyalty my dear, I am loyal to my wife. Yes we are currently not married but you know the obvious thing we would do once we met, we would get married. Its just we are not married documentarily, it''s just we haven¡¯t signed the marriage documents yet but our hearts have already intertwined.


    Scarlet : What if we get to marry and then I have to go


    Pathum : I would not marry any other darling.


    Scarlet : Why not?


    Pathum : Because you never left me I mean you didn¡¯t dump me or abandoned me. You understand?


    Scarlet : I do. You are my PP.


    Pathum : Huh! Poop party?


    Scarlet : Precious Pathum!


    Shouldn¡¯t he sleep already?


    Scarlet: You need to sleep now sweetie.


    Pathum : But..


    Scarlet : No buts¡­


    Pathum : ??


    Scarlet : Sweet dreams sweetie!


    Pathum : Read ¡®Anna Karenina¡¯ for me.


    Scarlet : I will.


    He didn¡¯t went to sleep right away, it was contest of emojis he poured my screen with those favourite emojis of his. That cry emoji. I feel pity for him, the fact his favourite emoji is a sad one. That doesn¡¯t matter, I will keep company and make him happy.


    After chores I sat with Mazie, playing around but my mind was thinking about him , about his health condition, he is going through  a lot and someone needs to help him, because he is suffering, I cannot watch him suffer like this, my mom and sister still have their negative opinion about him, they still think I am not good enough, that he is not the right one and that I am making a big mistake going against god, I don¡¯t understand these people why cant they see that I am so happy?


    I am a happy person that is all that matters when it comes to picking the right person and they still complain he needs to grow up and that he cannot handle life, I had to do chores alone my sister aint helping me with them and mom insisted that I must do them as soon as possible, they are taking every step to keep me away from my boy, but they don¡¯t understand that no matter how much they try to keep me away from him It doesnt matter I and pathum are forever lovers we are meant to be with each other and if that means I have to go against my own family yes I will gladly choose it. My family always treated me wrong they always had Abigail as the crowned daughter and me as the troubled kid, they loved her more than they did for me it is fine, what is there love compared to Pathum¡¯s love, my boy love me more than they ever could, I love him and he love me and we are forever one unit. I know I have god¡¯s favour god¡¯s blessings.


    God will always give his love and protection, I know my family wont ever love him like I want them to but thats okay I don¡¯t need them anyway, I can love my boy as much as I want him.


    ¡° whatcha thinking about ?¡¯¡¯ Abigail asked me taking a seat near me.


    ¡®¡¯ oh nothing, it doesnt matter anyway,¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ oh bet its him.¡¯¡¯ she looked closely at me


    ¡®¡¯ why do you guys hate him, he is not a bad person.¡¯¡¯ tears fill my eyes.


    ¡®¡¯ may not be a bad person but he is definitely not the right person for you.¡¯¡¯ she stood with her idea, while tears cascaded down through my cheeks, the mention of such words at him melt me.


    ¡®¡¯ for god¡¯s sake stop.. please love him he is the right person I don¡¯t understand whats so wrong about him. Why cant you both love him ?¡¯¡¯ I said while tears started flowing.


    ¡®¡¯ there is no point talking with you .¡¯¡¯ she left with that.


    I don¡¯t understand whats wrong with them.


    Why can¡¯t they see him for who he is. What¡¯s the point in all these rebellious behaviours?

 Chapter 41

    Pathum POV


    My sweetie is worried that her family doesnt love me as much as she wanted , but thats okay atleast they don¡¯t force her not to talk with me, it doesnt matter if they love me or not I will forever protect my baby girl.


    A week went by and nothing unusual happened they didn¡¯t loved me , but my mom and Lil mom loved me so thats all that matter. They both love me and I don¡¯t care if they whole world is against me  their love is stronger .


    So eventually her birthday arrived and it is my responsibility to write a letter for her so I did


    Dear happiness,


    I don¡¯t know how to begin or where to begin, but let me say happy birthday my beautiful little angel, scarlet I wish you are very happy birthday, from now onwards you are a big girl, you are a 18 years old, think about it , you lived your life this long and think about the things you been through and yet here you are standing and delivering your best no matter what,I am so proud of you my little angel, well not so little but you will always be my lil mom. I am so proud of you , I am darling. Words cant express my gratitude towards you, words just don¡¯t justify your moral importance to me.


    I have so many things to tell about you,but for the sake of time and length I will have to make it short but still I will manage to include everything that is needed. When you came into my life there was nothing special in my life I wasn¡¯t anything worthwhile I was not something people would think about, I don¡¯t want their attention but I am just saying I was nothing before you, I had no purpose, but once you step into my life oh dear god everything changed , your presence changed everything in my life, when you step into my life I became immortal, yeah trust me when you came into my life I realised that I need to stay constant and consistent with who I am , I realised I need to be a good boy, I was one already, but wasn¡¯t a perfect good boy I had some flaws, so I corrected my flaws and listened to your words and my little angel I became the very best version of myself because of you, if you never stepped into my life I would not be the one I am right now I would be a ordinary boy, nothing too special, but you came into my life and look where we stands now.


    Your presence not only enlightened me , but enrich my mom and our family, we are a single happy unit because of you, we are strong because of you, you are the reason for everything, I am proud to be your boy friend , your bestie , and your friend, I am proud to call you my everything, there is nothing in this world I can be proud of but being with you telling the world scarlet is my girl friend , you are like a diamond you been through a lot , you go through a lot of mental and physical pain, you don¡¯t take painkillers for your pain so don¡¯t be worried oneday you will be a good mom, you will give birth to a wonderful child and oneday we will tell that child how great you were and how great you are.


    So scarlet thank you so much for coming into my life, If you didn¡¯t came in to my life , it would be a mess, it was a mess, it wouldnt be a fixed life without you, I never had that many friends I really never had many friends before you arrived and once you arrived I lost the friends that I had left remaining because I dropped them, I left them because I didn¡¯t wanted them, I realise that you are the only one I need , all I need is just one friend and that is scarlet, yes it is quite difficult but I have you, without you my life is in complete darkness, that is not being poetic but being realistic without you my life is of darkness but with you it is void of darkness it shines like it never had being before, just one reason and that is you.


    So here is a reminder about scarlet baker,  she is a diamond , not a diamond but I cant define her in a single component, she is the very best . she is the mother of my children , and the goddess of love. I love you so much scarlet and there is nothing in this world that can stop me from loving you, I will always love you.


    Scarlet , this letter may not have achieve the uttermost thing it wanted to achieve but I can assure you , my darling girl just shed tears reading this letter, you know why she shed tears? It is because it is true and my darling girl is so innocent. You are so innocent no matter what your family say, and between they might hate me but trust me eventhough they hate me, they love you , they are your family and they want the very best to you, they just want to give the best life they dreams for you, It is totally fine they hate me now, but when I met them in real life they will love me and forgot all their past. So baby girl I am so sorry that I cause you troubles, I am so sorry I wish I could avoid them. But my darling you are very strong and you will survive any disaster. With me by your side you can live upto your expectations.


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    I love you sweetie, thank you for being you and coming into my life. Please don¡¯t underestimate your life you are the very best girl in the world. The very best. I love you my darling I am so happy to be here with you I enjoyed every single day that I spent with you since I met you. You are my lil mom, remember that right? You are still my lil mom, you would always remain as my lil mom. I can¡¯t wait until I meet my children to tell them about how good their mom was and how good of a mother she was for me. Someone might cringe at those words but I know you didn¡¯t because you are my lil mom.


    Thank you darling! Have a blessed day and live happily ahead.


    I send her the letter, the very first thing she got when she woke up was my letter and the very first thing my darling asked was am I okay? She is worried about me than worrying her pain, she is a great mother and she will be a great mom. I know she will be a great mom.


    Scarlet : I am so blessed to have you in my life, I thank god everyday for having you in my life. Thank you so so much my lovely boy!


    Pathum : Hehehe


    Scarlet : Guess what?


    She¡¯s crying


    Pathum : My baby is in tears aren¡¯t you?


    Scarlet : God! How did you? You are such a blessing. Thank you so much for coming into my life. God know I can¡¯t stop my tears.


    She¡¯s so innocent


    Pathum : No thank you. Thank you for coming and lightning my life, thank you for brightening my life sweetie.


    Scarlet : Pathum I wish you were here. This sweet letter was the very best thing that happened to me today and will forever be in my heart.


    Pathum : You would hug the life out of me if I was there wouldn¡¯t you?


    Scarlet : I would Pathum I would. Why did god let us be born in two different world. I need you here with me, I don¡¯t need these people who call themselves as family with me, I need you not them. Never them.


    Pathum: They love you despite your flaws sweetie, don¡¯t hate them. They fed you and let you grow old with them. Dont ever forgot them.


    Scarlet : How could you still forgive them after what they did to you? They hates you for no reason and you still forgive them? God I cannot understand it. You are an angel Pathum you are.


    Pathum : Hatred does not diminish with hatred, it¡¯s wings are crushed and diminised under the power of love. So dear scarlet let us love them for love will take care of itself.


    Scarlet : Wise. very wise. Where do you get that wisdom?


    Pathum : Buddhism. Lord buddha said that, I mean he didn¡¯t said anything about wings but that hatred can be ceased through love. But you know as a talented writer I was able to translate his words with some cheese and butter.


    Scarlet : HEHE! You are so adorable!


    Pathum : Not as much as you darling!


    Scarlet : You always give me credits, why Pathum? Seeing someone like you being mistreated by my family is the worst thing I have to endure. Though you tell me to love them I find it impossible to offer them that, but still what you said was true so I will listen to you.


    Pathum : Good girl


    Scarlet : Sweetie it¡¯s too late for you, you have the biology class tomorrow morning don¡¯t you?


    Pathum : It¡¯s alright sweetie.


    Scarlet : It¡¯s not alright. It¡¯s already 1 a.m out there and you class starts at 6. You need a rest and a good sleep before the class so brat shut the bluff up and sleep. I want that butt of yours to sleep now.


    Pathum : Are you sure?


    Scarlet : 100%


    Pathum : Goodbye sweetie!


    Scarlet : Goodnight!

 Chapter 42

    Scarlet POV


    I read his letter, it was perfect, my boy cares about me than anyone in this entire world. I know that . None of my family wished me , there don¡¯t even remember what day it was , or they didn¡¯t cared about it. Nonetheless Annabelle wished me and said that she got something important to say . I expected them to wish me in afternoon but they didn¡¯t wished me, that is so adorable of them to do so, maybe they are teaching me a lesson what happens when you pick someone outside your family , they are doing a great job if thats what they are intended.


    Mom prepared a cake in the evening, so they did remembered and they were delighted to wish me well and they prayed god that I would take right decisions I bet them I take right decisions. And they don¡¯t have to pray god for wisdom, I know god have given me them before handed. Please god give them to wisdom that they lack.


    So at 6 p. m everything was over and quite and mom was preparing for dinner and I was chatting with both pathum and annabelle. That is when Annabelle brought her topic.


    Annabelle ; hey, I think its time I tell you


    Scarlet ; sure whats up?


    Annabelle ; I am sorry


    Scarlet ; for what?


    Annabelle ; for misunderstanding him, for behaving bad with your sister and trying to break your relationship apart, I didn¡¯t saw it until today, today when I video called you and we had our talk for the 15 minutes I got to know so much more about you and your family, when I saw your letter or his letter to you, I realised that he is actually the good guy and Abigail is the villain. Im sorry but I realised a whole another level of lying today.


    Scarlet ; thats okay , I am glad you finally choose to support us.


    Annabelle ; I am glad I finally opened my eyes to the reality.


    Scarlet ; true!


    Annabelle ; Abigail told many lies about him, I don¡¯t know why she did that but now come to think about it I understand why she did what she did, it was out of jelousy she acted the way she acted, she wanted to separate you guys because she was jelous you that you were happy and she just wanted to break you apart. Now I see everything well, how she treated you and how she scolded you and how she lies to me and mom. She wanted to be the good girl and wanted to make scarlet the weak troubled girl.


    Scarlet ; thats enough annabelle, I am glad you finally saw something.


    Annabelle ; that is not okay , but why didn¡¯t you told me this before? It could have solved many problems


    Scarlet; you would have fought with her and that would have caused me troubles.


    Annabelle ; troubles?


    Scarlet ; she threatens me that she would reveal our true relationship, you know mom doesnt know pathum is my boy friend, she thinks he is still my bestie. And mom wants it to be like that forever, she dislikes me marrying a non christian. So Abigail had the upper hand.


    Annabelle ; how dare she did this!


    Scarlet; please don¡¯t let her know about this, just stay quite, if you spoke a single word against her that means its all troubles for me and pathum. So please as a favour for me and pathum just stay quite.


    Annabelle ; I need to talk to him as well.


    Scarlet ; oh thats nice of you I have an idea


    Annabelle said that she wanted to talk to my boy so I figured if I created a group on google hangouts it will be easier for them to communicate and fix the issues.


    Pathum ; wow! Scarlet you created a group.


    Annabelle ; sure she did. So hi there!


    Pathum ; hello there! How are you?


    Annabelle ; im good.


    Pathum ; me too Annabelle.


    Annabelle ; you know about me?


    Pathum; scarlet have told me about you, so yes I know that you are her dearest best friend.


    Annabelle ; she told me it was you.


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    Pathum ; and I tell you it is you, I know I have been her bestie and is still one, but as in point of view from your angle I think annabelle is a very good friend.


    Annabelle ; im so sorry , I was so wrong about you, I am sorry I tried to separate you both.


    Pathum ; you did all for scarlet, you were thinking about her.


    Annabelle ; no I am so sorry I shouldnt have done that, I shouldnt have, I am so sorry pathum. Will you forgive me?


    Pathum ; how can I forgive you?


    Annabelle ; I am so sorry !


    Pathum ; how can I forgive you when you have not commited any crime? So please let it go, you were under the influence of another individual , they were pouring unsuitable substances to your head and was under control so it is not and it is never your fault. So annabelle if you need my forgiveness okay you are granted with it, just know you didn¡¯t do anything wrong you love scarlet and you were trying to protect her. It was just a simple misunderstanding for the sake of love and protection, you were just protecting your sister, your beloved bestie.


    Annabelle ; I don¡¯t deserve your kindness!


    Pathum ; you do.


    Scarlet ; aww you both are melting my heart.


    Pathum ; and you are the reason!


    Annabelle ; Aww


    Scarlet ; I love you , I love you both.


    Annabelle ; we love you too!


    I am glad they are happy together, also glad that finally and eventually she took our side , the most important thing is that we stick as one impenetrable unit so that no matter the outside noise it cannot destroy us. Unity! United we stand divided we fall they say. I just hope my sister could see this side of Pathum. If she understood him properly she wouldn¡¯t be doing what she is doing now.


    Pathum : So annabelle tell me more about you. I would like to get to know about my sweetie¡¯s new best friend.


    Aww he just didn¡¯t said that. I am going to keep my mouth shut and let them talk and get to know each other well.


    Annabelle : I am a girl, christian and loves jesus.


    Pathum : That speaks volumes about you. So you go to church reguarly? I mean every sunday?


    Annabelle : Yes I do. Are you too?


    Pathum : I am sorry but I don¡¯t.


    Annabelle : why don¡¯t you?


    Pathum : because I am not a christian Annabelle but still I am trying to have some connection with god but it¡¯s just a struggle at the moment. I hope it get fixed later in my life.


    Annabelle : oh I see. Keep believing in god and trust in him he will lift you to a higher place. I know he will.


    Pathum : I understand.


    Annabelle : so you don¡¯t have a religion?


    Pathum : I do. I am a buddhist. Have you ever heard of buddhism?


    Annabelle : Monks!


    Pathum : Yes yes exactly!


    Annabelle: Do buddhists believe in a god?


    Pathum : No we don¡¯t.


    Annabelle : So there aren¡¯t any god?


    Pathum : Actually there are gods, not a central figure. It is kinda complicated, not really but I can explain it to you if you do like.


    Annabelle : Go ahead.


    Pathum : So in buddhism there are no central god or a creator. We don¡¯t necessarily believe that one supernatural force created us oneday and the world came into existence. Eventhough we don¡¯t believe doesn¡¯t mean we reject that theory completely. Maybe some buddhists believe those theories and some just don¡¯t. To provide you with sufficient information I am not that educated, buddhism is so complicated if you examine it fully. Buddhism cannot be explained by a singe book. There are several books about buddhism or many books and doctrines preached by lord buddha. To assume a number there could be hundred thousands pages preached by buddha. Unfortunately I am no expert to say the exact value but all I know is it is not a simple task.


    So in buddhism there is not a creator but higher beings do exists and we call them gods who are above us in heaven. Heaven is the place where good spirited human live, if you live as a good man on this earth then you might even get promoted to a god and live in heaven and guide humans or you might be having a blessed life than that the one you already have in your next birth. So yes we believe in reincarnation and rebirth.


    For example animals are a gift of god to accompany humans according to christianity but it is not right in buddhsim. Animals are believed to be humans in previous lives who does wrong and fell into the lower catergory of beings according to buddhism. So we don¡¯t tolerate killing animals and taking them as food for pleasure, it is wrong. Very wrong of humans to do so.


    Annabelle : Wow! That¡¯s a massive message to process.


    Pathum : Take your time and try to understand.


    Annnabelle : Can I ask you something?


    Pathum : Go ahead.


    Annabelle : Do you believe in god?


    Pathum : I am trying Annabelle. I am trying so hard to find my path but unfortunately it is crossed. But still I love Scarlet than anything else. She is my number one person alongside my mother. I might not have a huge faith on god but I have a massive faith on Scarlet. I believe her and trust her with all my heart. I am so sorry that I couldn¡¯t be the man you want me to be, I am truly so sorry Scarlet. I wish I had faith like you do on god but I don¡¯t. Nevertheless I love you and trust you so so much my dear darling girl Scarlet.


    Oh god! He mentioned me I have to speak up. Why can¡¯t he go without mentioning me and giving me credits? My sweet boy I love him.


    Scarlet : My sweet darling boy I love you, so so much!


    Annabelle : Aww! Where was you this whole time?


    Scarlet : I just watched you both talking.


    Pathum : that¡¯s so adorable!


    Annabelle : love birds!


    Scarlet : Oneday you might get to know what it¡¯s like to be a love bird Annabelle.


    Pathum : Yeah ! yeah .


    We kept talking about love birds and continued talking about god and the impoortnace of having faith on him. Annabelle and I took our time explaining to him about god and fortunately he understood everything like a bright student.


    Few minutes later after washing Mazie I fell into slumber.

 Chapter 43

    Pathum POV


    I am glad that Annabelle joined us, it is good to have a team. Against the lord of evils. Well humour me! I hope Abigail join us too, well I hope she forgives well no , not forgive but apologise to scarlet and bend her knees. If she shall do that she¡¯ll be forgiven too. I mean there¡¯s no room in my heart for hatred, I admit I want her to support us but desperation get me nowhere, we just need to wait and let time settle things. Just as much as Annabelle settled with us, who knows Abigail might settle too.


    It would be like a dream come true


    PATHUM ; GOOD MORNING SWEETIE!


    Scarlet ; good morning prince charming!


    Pathum ; Ma¡¯am are you flirting with me now?


    Scarlet ; maybe


    pathum; you cant do that ma¡¯am


    Scarlet ; sure I can


    Pathum ; ma¡¯am I am going to kiss you


    Scarlet ; I¡¯m not against that


    Pathum ; I will kiss you all day.


    Scarlet ; you cant boy!


    Pathum ; why not?


    Scarlet ; cause you cant last that long hehe.


    Pathum ; you- I - omg you devil I was talking about kissing you


    Scarlet ; my bad ! pardon me sir!


    Pathum ; only under I condition


    Scarlet ; and that is?


    Pathum ; send me your pics


    Scarlet ; you want me badly, don¡¯t you boy?


    PAthum : So aren¡¯t you gonna send them?


    Scarlet : Why should I ?


    Pathum : Becuase I deserve it, don¡¯t I?!


    Scarlet : No you do not.


    Pathum : Huh?!


    Scarlet : No husband privileges, you are still my boyfriend.


    Pathum : Come on Scarlet, just one.


    Scarlet : No chance sir.


    Pathum : I am mad.


    Scarlet : You are cute when you are madder.


    Pathum : I promise you, it is so disgusting when I get mad, when I get loss of control. I loathe to see that part of me. My family has seen that part of me and have severely got injured in the past and I hope I wouldn¡¯t hurt you, I just beg god or whatever supernatural or natural power that lies above us to protect you from that monster.


    Scarlet : Stop it Pathum. You are no monster, stop that rubbish at once.


    Darling I am not saying rubbish!


    Pathum : When I get mad I am a monster, did you forgot my mouth against mom back in those days? Scarlet I have to warn you, there¡¯s a monster inside me and I don¡¯t want him to come at you, I just want to get rid of him but I never could.


    Scarlet : You are no monster! End of conversation.


    Pathum: But I am so ugly when I get mad.


    Scarlet : We all are Pathum. So hush.


    Pathum : Please promise me you wouldn¡¯t go away if that monster hurt you, I¡¯d kill myself before letting that monster hurt you.


    Scarlet : I ain¡¯t leaving you now or ever so Pathum please get your mind on the right track becuase you are walking not on the righteous path at the moment. Get your mind out of those wicked thoughts. I don¡¯t like you saying such horrible stuff about you. I never do.


    Pathum : But what if I get mad and hurt you?


    Scarlet : You never hurt me to begin the conversation so I have faith that you never would.


    Pathum : What if I do?


    What if?


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    Scarlet : No what ifs.


    Pathum : But¡­


    Scarlet : I will make sure that you never turn into that stupid monster you are referring to.


    Pathum : Scarlet. I have something important to say, I should have told it way before but due to my stupid behaviour I am afraid you might jump into unnecessary conclusions so I have to say it right now.


    Scarlet : What¡¯s it darling?


    Pathum; well you have to know I want you first ,not your body, body is just an extra , you know it right? I loved you way before I ever get to know your body. Alright darling?! I don¡¯t give a damn to your body. Excuse me for my language but all that I need is you, don¡¯t ever forget that Scarlet.


    As your boyfriend and your future husband it is my resposibility to admire your body and take good care of it, so that¡¯s why I say what I say. Maybe I am obsessed with your body but is it wrong? You¡¯re the only naked woman I admire and want.


    Remember that my dear Scarlet. I loved you first, and will always do. I am sorry earlier for asking your pictures, I am sorry for forcing you and making you uncomfortable. Okay sweetie? I am so sorry. Just remember the reason I talk about your body is to make you feel better about you and make to sure you laugh and keep you in a happy state of mind, not that I am hungry for something else. I mean maybe I sm hungry for you I admit but is it wrong? I mean I am not a pervery or something right? Because your body is the only body I seek.


    Scarlet ; I know sweetie, I was joking around. You are no pervert or any of such weirdo. You are perfect! The perfect boyfriend a girl could ever have. You are my dream boyfriend. There is nothing in you that I see as bad.


    Pathum : But I don¡¯t love God ?


    Scarlet : that¡¯s okay dear.


    Pathum : but scarlet it is not just okay.


    Scarlet : there¡¯s nothing we could do about it Pathum. You¡¯ll love him as you discover yourself in him we just need to be patient.


    Pathum : I am sorry but I have to confess the truth, I don¡¯t think I accept God more than I accept the words of Lord Buddha.


    Scarlet : it¡¯s okay I am glad you still have someone to believe.


    Pathum : Eventhough I don¡¯t believe in god as much as you do, and even if I cannot love god above everyone else. I will still pray and ask for his forgiveness.


    Scarlet : I am proud of you


    Pathum ??


    Scarlet : don¡¯t cry sweetie.


    Pathum : but I am just disappointed that I couldn¡¯t have faith in him like you do.


    Scarlet : we are humans Pathum, not all of us gonna have the same faith and share the same opinion. Even though you won¡¯t love god as much as I do, with time it might change.


    Pathum : what if it don¡¯t?


    Scarlet : doesn¡¯t matter I still love you and I know you love me as well. I know regardless of what my family utter that you¡¯ll love me and let our children follow my path without hesitation. I know you¡¯ll never cross my path or my children. I trust you. I BELIEVE you.


    Pathum :??


    Scarlet : Whether you love God or not I believe in you and I have so much faith in you Pathum. Just know that.


    Pathum : Aww thank you sweetie!


    Scarlet : No need to thank me sweetie. It¡¯s just the truth.


    Pathum : I still feel bad.


    Scarlet : I feel it too. I am sorry.


    Pathum : God why are you saying sorry?


    Scarlet : because you are feeling bad because in your mind you could¡¯t be the man I want you to be and I have done a terrible job at consoling you, giving you nothing but grief and weight.


    Pathum : That¡¯s not true Scarlet!


    Scarlet :??


    Pathum : please don¡¯t cry.


    Scarlet : I guess it¡¯s my turn now.


    Pathum : Hehehe


    I hope my magic would work


    Scarlet : Aww¡­


    Pathum : did my magic just worked?


    Scarlet : your whattt?


    Pathum : Hehehe


    Scarlet : Oh dang!!! It worked, it really worked well.


    Pathum ; anyway how is your butt?


    Scarlet ; it is fine I guess.


    Pathum ; don¡¯t tell me that you skipped your butt exercises today.


    Scarlet OMG!!! stop


    Pathum ; HEHEHE!


    Scarlet; omg I cant stop laughing.


    There is nothing I enjoy than seeing her happy,the fact that I could make her laugh is so cute and the fact that my little girl is still laughing shows how innocent she is, well shes a bit devil sometimes but well she is still my little angel. My Lil mom. I love making her laugh, I just want to make sure that oneday I will be able to make her laugh and experience that cute smile right there with her and then kiss her forehead.


    I am just too impatient to wait till that day comes. Inorder for that dream to come true I gotta work harder and pass this bloody exam.


    Pathum : Oneday I¡¯m gonna take that big butt of yours on a wild ride.


    Scarlet : Pathum Stop! Gosh ! Give me your address.


    Pathum : My address? Why all a sudden?


    Scarlet : So that I could pack it and send it to you.


    Pathum : What is¡¯it¡¯?


    Scarlet : My big butt


    Pathum : Best gift ever


    Scarlet : Heck yeah!


    Pathum : What do you think I would do with it?


    Scarlet : Oh things that eyes aren¡¯t supposed to witness.


    Pathum : Hey! Heyyy I am good boy I wouldn¡¯t even touch it, I wouldn¡¯t do anything neither even look.


    Scarlet : If that big butt belong to another woman ofcourse you wouldn¡¯t, but it is not of a woman but of mine, and since it¡¯s mine I know from the bottom of my heart that you couldn¡¯t resist the temptations.


    Pathum : You know about me than I know about me.


    Scarlet : Ofcourse darling.


    Pathum : You are such a cute angel do you know that?


    Scarlet : Aww please stop or else imma cry now.


    Pathum : Go ahead and shed some happy tears sweetie.


    Scarlet : You are cute!


    Pathum : So are you!


    Scarlet : I love you!


    Pathum : I love you too!


    Scarlet : I love you even more!


    Pathum : Hehehehehehehehehe I love you to the moon


    Scarlet : I love you to the Mars


    Pathum : I love you to the sun!


    Scarlet : I will be a crisp wouldn¡¯t I?


    Pathum : I woouldn¡¯t let that ever happen.


    Scarlet : Hey I was wondering how¡¯s your studies these days?


    Pathum : Biology is fine but chemistry and physics need huge improvement. Since I am stupid I cannot process complex stuff.


    Scarlet : You are stupid to think you are stupid.


    Pathum : So I am stupid?


    Scarlet : Never!

 Chapter 44

    Scarlet POV


    I couldn¡¯t stop laughing when he mentioned the butt. God how can he crack me up that way ?  God knows how much I can laugh when my boy is around me, oh I wish he was here near me so that I am happy forever. But he isn¡¯t here with me but I don¡¯t take my frustration on anybody I am certain that god has a plan for everything, this separation and long distance might be a test that I need to endure and become a better version of myself when it comes to qualities like patience.


    God always has a plan he wouldn¡¯t do anything without a mere reason. Eventhough I might not see it now I would see it when I passed this test.


    ¡° do your chores, not your texting¡¯¡¯ mom snapped at me.


    ¡®¡¯ why me ? why cant Abigail do any of the work?¡¯¡¯ I said suddenly not realising what went out of my mouth.


    ¡®¡¯ is this how you are supposed to be talking with me?¡¯¡¯ mom glared at me.


    ¡®¡¯ I am sorry mom¡¯¡¯ I said quitely .


    ¡°You know who is behind her rage mom.¡± Abigail sneek her head into our conversation, as always putting her when it¡¯s none of her concern.


    ¡°Oh would you shut your damn mouth.¡± I yelled at her, he respond was a smirk.


    ¡°Look what he has done to her.¡± Abigail said still smirking.


    ¡°I can see that well.¡± mom nodded, and I wanted to shove this mop inside Abigail¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°This is just the beginning mom.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± I asked focusing on my breath to calm down.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± she shook her head.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I ?¡±


    ¡°Because you are blindly in love with Pathum.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand your problem with him, he hasn¡¯t done anything wrong to you but still you hate him.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate him.¡±


    ¡°Neither do you love him.¡±


    ¡°Why would I?¡±


    ¡°You guys loved him in the beginning what went wrong?¡±


    ¡°You. It¡¯s what went wrong child.¡± Mom looked at me. Tears slowly began to cascade but I ignored them.


    ¡°


    I did the chores, and was on our way to church , we did our prayers so it was me and Lily


    ¡°So what¡¯s up Scarlet?¡± Lily asked me patting me on the back, I offered a smile in return.


    ¡°Are you excited we are gonna be graduating next year. I mean that¡¯s my dream.¡± she smiled.


    ¡°Mine too.¡± I giggled.


    ¡°Can you believe that we get to graduate high school but still to never get a boyfriend or the first kiss?¡± she said looking at me.


    Should I say it to her?


    ¡°I know but it¡¯s not that strange either cause I mean no nothing, I mean we will have our time oneday. Let¡¯s just enjoy life as it is now,¡± I said gulping what I was gonna say


    ¡°No tell me.¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± I shook my head


    ¡°Comeon Scarlet, don¡¯t give me that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just I mean Abigail.¡± I scratched my head not knowing what to say


    ¡°What about her?¡±


    ¡°I mean even she hasn¡¯t ever got her first kiss yet.¡±


    ¡°But she did had a boyfriend.¡± she raised her brows.


    ¡°You are right. That¡¯s why I said it¡¯s not important.¡± I waved off.


    ¡°But what¡¯s with you both? Why is so different to you? I mean to us.¡± She asked me.


    Should I tell her?


    I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t think that is wise. But whatever!


    ¡°She¡¯s just being her, my elder sister, the boss child of the family. The favourtie perfect child.¡± I said tears slowly building up. I stared at distant unable to look her in the eye cause if I do, my eyes would betray me.


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    She glared me and then touched my cheeks.


    ¡°Hey are you crying ?¡±


    No I am trying my best not to


    ¡°Hey hey, tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± she grabbed me by the arm and shook me, I bit my lip and shook my head.


    ¡°Nothing Lily! It¡¯s not that important is it?¡±


    She didn¡¯t gave up, she tried her best to take it out but how the heck am I going to explain about Pathum because I haven¡¯t told about him yet. So I denied there¡¯s nothing to wrong eventhough she pleased me to reveal what I am hiding. We didn''t talked anything important as she tried her best to console me, something my family never tried to do. After attempting many times to get it out of me she gave up and changed the topics


    ¡®¡¯ I just hope you¡¯ll be fine. I almost forgotten I got you something.¡¯¡¯ she said carefully scanning the surrounding , and then slowly she picked her phone and showed me a picture. A picture of a boy.


    Why show me Lily?


    ¡®¡¯ guess what ? he is my cousin.¡¯¡¯ she smiled


    I guess where she is going with this one


    ¡° oh he¡¯s nice!¡¯¡¯ I said trying to sound nice to her.


    ¡®¡¯ well he is in search of a girl friend.¡¯¡¯


    Pathum! Pathum! Pathum!


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s interesting.¡± I said looking away, but I kept my smile cause I don¡¯t want to hurt her feelings.


    ¡°So¡­¡± she trailed off


    ¡°So?...¡± I raised my brows and focus on her gaze, she was smiling and my behaviour slowly fades it away.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he cute?¡±


    Cute?


    ¡°Ofcourse he is cute.¡±


    Scarlet really?


    ¡°You like him?¡±


    ¡°Mmmm.¡±


    ¡°What are you mumbling? Don¡¯t you wanna know him?¡±


    ¡°I would love to know, but no thanks.¡± I kindly refused her offer. Her smile outright faded and a agonizied expression crept on her face.


    ¡®¡¯ what do you mean ? you don¡¯t want a boyfriend?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ mmmmm¡¯¡¯ I smiled. She looked at me clueless.


    ¡®¡¯ or do you already got one?¡¯¡¯ she smirked and touched my cheeks and kept looking me in the eyes expecting me to answer her question.


    ¡°If I did, wouldn¡¯t I already admit it?¡± I replied.


    ¡°You would but maybe this is how you reveal cause the Scarlet I know wouldn¡¯t just dismiss a handsome bloke just like you did now.¡± she said clearly understnading that something is going on within me.


    ¡°Lily you know me so well don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Oh my God! You gotta be kidding me. Does this mean you already have one?¡± she shook me and screamed, I gesutred her to slow down because I don¡¯t want unwanted attention especially from my family.


    ¡°Speak up girl! You cannot expect me to calm down now, how dare you never told me about it. Have I met him? Where is he? His name? Where do he live? Gosh have I already met him? Scarlet tell me.¡± Lily clearly did got attention towards us which made me a bit nervous and scared but I remained sane not wanting to loose ends.


    ¡°Well the thing is even I haven¡¯t met him.¡± I offered her a genuine smile which literally confused her outright.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t met? What? I don¡¯t understand. Wait you mean he is from online¡± she implored and I nod at her.


    ¡°He¡¯s not from our state.¡±


    ¡°Not from louisiana? Then where texas?!¡±


    ¡°Well I have to break it to you he is not even from any state.¡±


    ¡°Oh wow! Where does this mysterious boy live?¡±


    ¡° well he is from Sri lanka¡¯¡¯


    ¡° Sri lanka ? ¡®¡¯ her widen her eyes


    ¡®¡¯ Asian.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ oh wow! Tell me tell me about him.¡¯¡¯ she stomped her feet on the ground.


    Is she excited or about to have a heartattack?


    ¡®¡¯ well we meant on wattpad, wattpad is a reading site or a social media plat form for readers and writers , so we met there oneday and then we started to talk with each other and eventually blaaaa here we are.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ how ridiculous ! thats all you gotta say about him?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ well I got a lot to say but I doubt we got enough time for it.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ we will have enough to see a picture of him.¡¯¡¯ she said. So I picked my phone and showed her the very best looking picture of him, the black t shirt and the smile, thats my favourite and I showed her that.


    ¡®¡¯ omg he is so cute! Look at him¡¯¡¯ she was over the moon


    Will she steal him?


    Ofcourse not.


    ¡®¡¯ aww thank you Lily¡¯¡¯ that sent butterfly in my heart, that really did, it was like the first time somebody commented on my boy  besides my mom and sister and whenever someone says something good about him that makes me so happy.


    We did talked about my boy and did showed her some of his photographic skills as well. She was impressed and pleased that I have got a decent boy.


    Ofcourse my boy is decent and nice , he always will be.


    ¡°Good god! He is a talented goodlooking bloke isn¡¯t he? I am so impressed already. Can¡¯t wait to find out more about him.¡± she grinned.


    ¡°Whatcha screaming about?¡± My sister suddenly appear and before I could reply Lily spoke first.


    ¡°Her man.¡±


    ¡°Her man?¡± she glared at us with raised brows and tilted her head on one side.


    ¡°Her gorgeous looking boyfriend!¡± she grinned but Abigail didn¡¯t share the same excitement.


    ¡°Oh, him.¡±


    She then turned and walked away from us. Lily said her to come back but she said waved off and disappeared.


    ¡°There¡¯s something big going on, isn¡¯t that so right?¡± she looked at me with concerned eyes.


    ¡°I got some explaining to do.¡± I sighed nodding.


    ¡°Next time we meet will talk about it. I have to go now Scarlet. Goodbye! SAY hi for him would you?¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± I smiled. I looked at the direction she disappeared.


    And then I turned to see my mom staring at me clealry throwing daggers from her eyes and I saw Abigail slowly whispering things to her.


    Why can¡¯t they contain the excitement just like Lily?


    Why can¡¯t they love him like they did before?

 Chapter 45

    Pathum POV


    I woke up from a dream, it wasn¡¯t a sweet dream. It is a perverted dream unfortunately, and most frustrating thing is; it is the third consecutive day that this freaking shitty thing happened. To make matters worst I slept on the stomach, thus that means I will have to wash the sheets as well and it will be a horific day one in which my hands would suffer and loads of soap and washing powder be wasted.


    Screw this organ! Fucking shit!


    Pathum : Scarlet! I just woke up!


    Scarlet : You barely slept five hours sweetie, I think it¡¯s wise if you extend it. Don¡¯t worry about me.


    Pathum : Scarlet! ??


    Scarlet : Oh God! Why are you crying?


    Pathum : I can¡¯t sleep Scarlet. I cannot not anymore.


    Scarlet : Why not? Don¡¯t tell me that¡­


    Pathum : That crap happened again


    Scarlet : I am sorry Pathum!


    Pathum : I hate my body! Why does this crap keep happening ? am I a pervert or something? It is the third freaking time this happened this week.


    Scarlet: Sweetie, Listen there¡¯s nothing to worry. Alright?


    Pathum : I am such a pervert am I not?


    Scarlet : I cannot believe you said that. You know more than anyone in this world that you ain¡¯t a pervert or something. So stop insulting yourself. I will NOT TOLERATE such crap from you.


    Pathum : Then why does this happen?


    Scarlet : BECAUSE YOU ARE A YOUNG HEALTHY MAN.


    Pathum : But why me? Third time for the week. I don¡¯t want to wake up to this misery Scarlet.


    Scarlet : I know that but there¡¯s nothing we can do about it Pathum. You ain¡¯t the only boy/man to go through this. All males go through this phase during one period of their lifetime and contniue to live through them.


    Pathum : But not all of those who go through this shit has OCD!


    Scarlet : Language Pathum!


    Pathum ??


    Scarlet : Sweetie I understand that you do not enjoy what has happened but you have to understand those things happen to every male and that doesn¡¯t mean you are a pervert or something. It just means you are a healthy man.


    Pathum : I need to go pee but I won¡¯t leave you.


    Scarlet : It¡¯s fine go.


    Pathum : But I can¡¯t.


    Scarlet : You can. There¡¯s nothing to worry those stuff ain¡¯t gonna hurt anybody.


    Pathum :??


    Scarlet : Don¡¯t worry just go.


    So I listened and went, but unfortunately I was not able to return as soon as I wanted me to, because I spent washing my hands and legs for many minutes straight.


    Everytime I close the tap and walked away from the tap my mind would tell me that I didn¡¯t washed my hands well eventhough I am hundred percent sure that pee didn¡¯t contacted my hands. So everytime I finished washing and walked away I would go back and apply some soap and extend it to the elbow and completely immerse the hands with bubbles of soap and then wash the hands while also applying soap on the tap incase if pee or shitty bodily secretions would have contacted the tap.


    I guess I continued the routine for a longer time eventhough I knew there¡¯s nothing to worry about.


    When I came back it was 4: 35 a.m. I had spent thirty five minutes washing.


    Can you believe a human spending half an hour just to pee?


    I am freaking tired. I honestly do not want to this anymore


    Pathum : Back!


    Scarlet : are you okay?


    Pathum :??


    Scarlet : Pathum what¡¯s wrong? Is everything alright?


    Pathum : I am sick and tired of this wet dreams shitt and tired of this washing and OCD crap.


    Scarlet : I am sorry Pathum.


    Pathum : ??


    Scarlet : Pathum it¡¯s just your mind, nothing would happen to anybody so stop worrying.


    Pathum : Do I need to wash the bedsheets?


    Scarlet : You don¡¯t have to if there¡¯s nothing there.


    Pathum : Unfortunately I slept on the stomach and to make it worst there¡¯s a visible stain on the bed sheet.


    Scarlet : You don¡¯t have to wash if you don¡¯t want to.


    Pathum : But the stain?


    Scarlet : is it dry?


    Pathum : Yes I guess.


    Scarlet : Then don¡¯t worry about it anymore.


    Pathum : But what if someone contact them?


    Scarlet : nothing¡¯s gonna happen to whoever that contacted it.


    Pathum : But Scarlet I¡¯m scared. What if it gets to someone¡¯s body and then they get preg¡­..


    Scarlet : Pathum! Pathum! Pathum!


    Pathum : I am so sorry for not listening to you. But I cannot evenif I wanted to. I am dead scared and everytime I see that stain it made my blood boil eventhough there¡¯s nothing to worry. I mean not blood boil but something unpleasant which does not make me comfortable.


    Scarlet : Pathum you are a smart boy! People don¡¯t conceive or get pregnant that way. You already know how it happens. So don¡¯t let your mind control you.


    Pathum : ??


    Scarlet : Sweetie don¡¯t cry! You are stronger than your OCD. You must fight, you must get up don¡¯t run away from it.


    Pathum : But Scarlet I am not comfortable until I am clean.


    Scarlet : then change your clothes sweetie.


    Pathum : Change my clothes? Without bathing and cleaning? Gosh that¡¯s impossible. I do kill myself without having to wash my hands after touching those stuff.


    Crap my overthinking stupid ocd shit storm mind


    Scarlet : Sweetie those are just natural body secretions, not poisonous toxic substances.


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    Pathum : Please you don¡¯t understand


    Scarlet : I do Pathum. I wish we never had this distance. So that I could be there for you.


    Pathum : ??


    Please my legs hurts I can¡¯t keep standing


    Scarlet : Is there a chance you could go bath?


    Pathum : No chance the well is already taken you know they have to go to work so yeah .


    Scarlet : After them gone could you?


    Pathum : I could but how could I wait until then? My legs are already hurting.


    Scarlet : Sit then.


    Pathum : Sit on my chair? Gosh with these crap on my body? I won¡¯t. I mean God I want to but I cannot do it.


    Scarlet : It won¡¯t hurt anybody Pathum.


    Pathum : But what if these stuff get contacted on the chair?


    Scarlet : It won¡¯t Pathum.


    Pathum : Sweetie I want to believe you but I just can¡¯t.


    Scarlet : ??


    Pathum : Omg!! PLease why are you crying?


    Scarlet : Because I can¡¯t help you.


    Pathum : You do help Scarlet. It¡¯s what keep me alive right now, I just wanna die Scarlet. You are what keeping me alive. Even mom scolds me saying there¡¯s nothing to worry and I need to learn to live with these.


    Scarlet : She ain¡¯t wrong Pathum, but scolding you is not right.


    Pathum : You are the only thing that keep me alive, please my mom isn¡¯t bad, she is also one of the reason why I am alive but when she scolds me when these stuff happen I only want to die, I cry alone when she say hurtful things but thank God I have you. You calm me and settle me. Your words are what keep me alive, your kindness even when I act like a new born and a stupid looser, honestly why does this keep happening to me and the most importantly why can¡¯t I deal with these?


    Scarlet : I am sorry I just wanna hug you and free you.


    Pathum : I am sorry but I can¡¯t hug you. Eventhough I WANT YOU TO hug me I just can¡¯t, not until I am clean from a bath.


    Scarlet : Pathum people don¡¯t get pregnant that way, it¡¯s just your mind. There¡¯s nothing to worry.


    I wish my mind would accept her words  but it never does.


    Pathum ; I am sorry I hate me


    Scarlet : Don¡¯t hate yourself Pathum. You are much wiser and better.


    Pathum : I just hate this stuff, I wish I was infertile or that I didn¡¯t born with these reproductive organs. I know it¡¯s not a good wish, that it might lead me into a life with no children. Honeslty I am so tired, I just hope this pain go away but I never would be free, maybe I have done a crime in my past life. It¡¯s okay I will suffer but I won¡¯t die, because you are the reason. I would never leave you alone in this world. That¡¯s a promise.


    Scarlet : Aww! You melt me!


    Pathum : Let¡¯s change topic, forget about me. So what did she said about my picture?


    Scarlet ; you or your photography?


    Pathum ; both


    Scarlet ; cute  and wonderful!


    Pathum ; wow! That is amazing! So she thinks I am a cute person? you know that means I might be an cute person hehe


    Scarlet ; ofcourse you are cute, why would you need somebody else to clarify it ?


    Pathum ; because darling that somebody is not in love with me, so she is not blind ,so that they say what they see.


    Scarlet ; so I am blind?


    Pathum ; no sweetie I was trying to say I am not cute as much as you think.


    Scarlet ; so you are accusing me for lies.


    Pathum ; no sweetie I am just trying to say that I might be not that cute as you imagine or see me, maybe there is something wrong with your eyes so that it looks like I am cute for you.


    Scarlet ; stop saying such stuff about yourself, you are cute and you are the cutest man in this earth and there is nobody who is cuter than you ,nobody . or atleast for me there is nobody . in my eyes you are the most handsome man I ever known and ever will know until , until our baby boy. When we give birth to him then maybe then I will question who is the cutest in the world.


    Pathum ;  don¡¯t give me credits sweetie, it is not us but you who give birth to a child, don¡¯t give me credits I do nothing, I just do nothing, you are the one who go through pain and suffering. You darling its you!


    Scarlet ; sweetie you always put yourself second.


    Pathum ; you are the most important person not I .


    Scarlet ; you are so sweet sweetie, but you need to understand that just like I am the most important in your life so are you in my life. Please remember that!


    Pathum : Aww!!!


    Scarlet : I am sorry but I have to go now , I gotta do the chores.


    She disappeared and I was alone with my freaking thoughts. I did my best to focus on the biology note, and made sure there was a distance between me and the book and also the table cloth because I don¡¯t want my body to contact the cloth. If it does I will have to wash the table cloth along with the bedsheets and the clothes I am wearing..


    Mom woke few minutes later and made me my tea. I drank the tea though the tea didn¡¯t taste better cause my wasn¡¯t peaceful. Mom took a biscuit from the biscuit box and offered me one but I shook my head. Surprised by my reaction she tried to hug me and I gestured her not to .


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong son?¡¯¡¯


    ¡° just leave me alone.¡± I said not looking at her.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you let me hug you, are you disgusted by me?¡±


    Mom I am disgusted by myself. I can¡¯t let you hug me. It¡¯s for your sake. To protect you.


    Eventhough I was able to contemplate on some kinds thoughts my words which I uttered wasn¡¯t so pleasant.


    ¡°Just leave.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± she turned and walked away.


    And once she was gone I sighed.


    I should have hugged her?


    Hug her? Are you crazy? You must first clean yourself before hugging her.


    Screw this ocd and this reproductive crap.


    Scarlet ; I¡¯m back !


    Pathum ;hmm.. sweetie you must sleep now.


    Scarlet ; nooo let me stay with you.


    Pathum : it¡¯s okay sweetie.


    Scarlet : But I can¡¯t leave you,not in this current state.


    Pathum : it¡¯s okay dear


    I forced her to go to sleep, she had to go to sleep, so I told her but my lil sweetie denied it but finally after several pleadings she finally went to sleep . My sweetie wanted to stay with me but she needs a good sleep, she had to sleep atleast 6 or 8 hours, not stay all night talking with me. She above everyone deserve a good night sleep with everything that goes on with her life.


    I just cant wait to meet her , she is a adorable soul, a pity she was born far away.


    Why is she so far away?


    If I ever had the faith and connection that Scarlet has for god I might even get a answer but unfortunately even when I force me to believe in god I just couldn¡¯t. For that I loathed myself.


    An hour later after she was gone I finished studying so that I could have breakfast and I did ate but not so pleasantly because I was standing the whole time. Mom questioned me why am I standing and eating but I only told her to leave.


    That¡¯s all I ever know to say


    After finishing eating breakfast I stood for another four more hours trying to process the biology notes but nothing really went into my head because I was waiting until I get the chance to bath.


    When I got the chance I finally grabbed my bedsheets, pillow cases and washing powder and soap box and hurried to the well. First I started with my clothes I was wearing and after minutes or hours of washing with tons of soap bubbles I finished washing clothes. And after suffering for four long hours of bathing and washing I was finally free. Clean and fresh. It has also been more than twelve hours since I last sat eventhough my back hurts I still persevered washing.


    Eventhough my body was clean I had forgotten one thing and that¡¯s my phone and earphone which I haven¡¯t touched on the bed. Washed the earphone easily but washing the phone is difficult.


    Hope mom wouldn¡¯t come.


    I went near the kitchen sink and then switched off the phone and started washing the phone. I separated the phone cover and washed it with soap but couldn¡¯t wash the phone with soap cause my phone might break completely .


    How the hell I am going to contact Scarlet if it¡¯s broken?


    My sweetie has overslept today and it¡¯s totally fine by me but I hope her family wouldn¡¯t scold her for it.


    After suffering of twelve plus hours I finally jump into my bed.


    Fresh and clean


    I texted Scarlet everything from washing and bathing for four hours and also washing the phones. I guess it¡¯s part of my OCD, I couldn¡¯t keep things to myself no matter how hard I try. I utter everything to her which I don¡¯t regret but is very annoying for me and also overwhelming to her.


    But I know my sweetie would love me no matter what! For that I am grateful for her.


    Thank you God!

 Chapter 46

    Scarlet POV


    Mom woke me up the next day, I had slept an extra hour , eventhough I slept earlier my body gained more than 8 hours causing me to be late. And they blamed him for that, well I cant stop them I try hard but to no avail. So I got up and drank my tea and was preparing breakfast and that is when we got the call from grandma, she was sick so we hurried to her house.


    ¡° Grandma, are you okay? ¡®¡¯ I asked once we got into her house.


    ¡®¡¯ Barely ! ¡®¡¯ she said in a low voice, she doesnt look good, she seems very ill cause she cant seem to wash her own cup.


    ¡®¡¯ What happened ?¡¯¡¯ I asked.


    ¡®¡¯ Nothing good darling, I couldn¡¯t breathe for awhile, now it is okay. I am not sure when god will take me,¡¯¡¯ she said slowly.


    ¡®¡¯ We must do the prayers now.¡¯¡¯ mom , me and my sister all prayed god for better health for grandma, we hope god will soon answer our prayers.  After our prayers mom started to prepare breakfast to her.


    While mom and sister were preparing breakfast me and grandma fell into a conversation.


    ¡®¡¯ How is he doing?¡¯¡¯ grandma looked around and looked me in the eye


    ¡®¡¯ My best friend?¡¯¡¯ I questioned her.


    ¡®¡¯ Your boyfriend darling.¡¯¡¯ I was surprised by her comment and to my luck mom didn¡¯t heard us speaking and she didn¡¯t bothered to cal me for help either. Grandma noticed  my mysterious behaviour


    ¡®¡¯ Umm.. I don¡¯t have one though..¡¯¡¯ I said avoiding eye contact.


    ¡®¡¯ Don¡¯t lie to me darling, I know he is your boy friend last time we talked I saw it in your eyes, you mouth can lie but your eyes cant. You cant hide your love for him, so stop pretending him to be your best friend just dang say he is yours and let the world knows about it.¡¯¡¯ she said, a smile on her face


    Why can¡¯t mom share the same excitement?


    ¡®¡¯ Grandma shush ! if mom heard us we both are done.¡¯¡¯ I gestured a finger to my mouth


    ¡®¡¯She cant do that why does she do that?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ He is not christian , so I don¡¯t think mom would be pleased to know about the news.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It doesnt matter he is christian or not, he loves you and you loves him and your love is greater than anything around you , so don¡¯t be scared to show the world who you love and who you want to be in your life, your mom gotta understand she cant do that to you, she has to do nothing about you but praise you both . ¡®¡¯ she said not taking her glance from me, she had to stop so she could cough. She coughed a bit too weakly which breaks my heart to know that these will be the final years she is spending with us.


    I will miss you grandma


    I wished my mom would treat our relationship as good as grandma.


    ¡®¡¯ It''s not how things works grandma.¡¯¡¯ I said tears slowly filling my eyes.


    ¡®¡¯ Let me speak to her.¡¯¡¯ she stood from her seat and started to walk towards the kitchen. I tired to stop her but she protested against it and that grabbed mom¡¯s attention.


    ¡®¡¯ What¡¯s going on there?¡¯¡¯ mom said loudly.


    ¡®¡¯ I need to talk to you now.¡¯¡¯ grandma said that firmly, she said it in a commanding voice. 5 minutes later we all gathered in the living room.


    ¡®¡¯ What''s this about? what has she said to you?¡¯¡¯ mom asked looking at me , and my sister too had the same look on her face. Like I said something wrong like I have done something wrong. They always had that look on their faces as if I am the criminal, as if I am the one who had committed everything wrong.


    ¡®¡¯ I need to talk to you all about something, not just something but many things and I think its the right time I do that as well¡¯¡¯ she took a deep breath and looked at all of us,  my heart proceeded to beat faster when she focuses on me. She made sure that she didn¡¯t stared for too long, if she had kept her glance I would lose it all.


    ¡®¡¯ As you know I am sick , I am not doing well and I am pretty sure I couldn¡¯t do it any longer-¡¯¡¯ mom stopped her but grandma slowly raised her arm.


    ¡®¡¯ Daisy, just let me talk, I will be the one to talk and you guys listen . listen well and carefully on what I have to say.¡±


    Mom tried to go against her but grandma raised her arm signaling not to disturb her, coughing in between.


    ¡° So as you know I am old, too old to take care of myself, too sick to not admit that as well. I don¡¯t have forever left in me so I want to spent these final days in peace , I want my freedom . When john died he left me with you guys, my child and my grandchildren . That is all I had when he left and I am grateful for him. I am blessed to have you guys, you guys take good care of me and protects me well. I am forever in debt for your service. You put your work on halt just to take care of this old woman. That is precious . I don¡¯t see many positives in this generation, and taking care of the old is one of them I see rarely. But I am blessed with an generation who takes cares of me without a complaint. Thank you for everything my children, thank you so much.¡¯¡¯ tears started flowing through her eyes as she breathed heavily. Mom and sister were in tears and so was I , when mom got up from her seat to check on grandma , grandma raised her hand and told her to take her seat.


    ¡®¡¯ So I am here to say something very important. I wanna acknowledge my final days I want to spent it in this old house, this house is of many memories, and I cherish on them. I don¡¯t want them to be perished, I want my final breath to be here, in this scared house and when I die this house shall go to either to scarlet or Abigail, since Abigail refused her offer I would like this house to go to my little grand daughter scarlet if she would accept it.¡¯¡¯ she said and everyone looked at me, I didn¡¯t know what to say or do . I looked at each other finding it difficult to speak . mom came in to my assistance.


    ¡®¡¯ Scarlet would you accept it ? yes?¡¯¡¯ no wasn¡¯t an option so I had to say yes, I had to say yes but I want it to be so grateful and nice.


    ¡®¡¯ I am so blessed and grateful for your kind offer grandma¡¯¡¯ I hugged her as I said those words and she secretly whispered in my ear ¡° its belongs to him as well¡¯¡¯ it wasn¡¯t loud enough for them to realise what she said.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡®¡¯ Thank you mom, but wouldnt it be easier for you to live with us in our house¡¯¡¯ mom asked her.


    ¡® Thank you dear but I shall stay here.¡¯¡¯ she forced a smile on her face. Wiping away the tears that filled her eyes.


    ¡®¡¯ Or maybe we could stay here?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ No child, don¡¯t abandon your family for me. I am a dying thing don¡¯t try to avoid it, let me stay where I belongs , you can take your trips to me once twice a week or so.¡¯¡¯ grandma coughed.


    ¡®¡¯ We will always.¡¯¡¯ mom said and went to the kitchen and arranged the breakfast to grandma. She took it followed by her pills. And we wait until evening and mom prepared the dinner for her and this time I was there to help her, no they didn¡¯t asked for my help but I couldn¡¯t sit there doing nothing. And one hour for 6 p m grandma called us again.


    ¡®¡¯ I wasn¡¯t done speaking , I have something else to say to you Daisy.¡¯¡¯ she said, the moment she called my mom my heart started to race faster because deep inside me I was scared whether it was about him or not. And it wasn¡¯t just about him,  it was more than that.


    ¡° Well, I wanted to say about you and your husband. You both know how you met and how you fell in love and how you lived. When you fell in love with him and asked for my advice I never denied it , I never refused your offers or never was against them. As a mother, as a woman I understood you and gave you the freedom to love him. And I ask you kindly do the same to your daughters.¡¯¡¯ she smiled. And mom looked at me with that look, that look that say ¡®what did you told her¡¯ but that is her looks , her mouth denied speaking. She remain silent


    ¡®¡¯ I need a promise from you Daisy.¡¯¡¯ she kept her glance at mom


    ¡®¡¯ I promise.¡¯¡¯ mom slowly replied


    ¡° Then why would you be against him and her?¡¯¡¯ she said pointing towards me.


    ¡®¡¯ Well that is a long story you don¡¯t understand mom.¡¯¡¯ mom said


    ¡®¡¯ I could if you do explain.¡¯¡¯ grandma said, slowly coughing.


    ¡° Are you okay grandma? ¡®¡¯ I asked and she nods


    ¡®¡¯ She would be if you had shut your mouth.¡¯¡¯ Abigail scolded me. It is true I did something wrong, I shouldnt have told grandma anything. I should have stayed silent. I gave her an unnecessary burden didn¡¯t I ?


    ¡®¡¯ He is so far away .¡±¡¯ mom said suddenly, and I felt a heated iron sinking into my heart.


    ¡®¡¯ But their love isnt so far away, their love will be always near them. Don¡¯t commit a sin by breaking them apart Daisy, I want you to understand that they are madly in love and you don¡¯t want to get in the middle of them and cause troubles, let them love freely. don¡¯t throw stones at them.¡± Grandma said as she looked at her with keen eyes


    ¡®¡¯ I don¡¯t want to have my grandchildren so far away, and who knows whether he will be here or not, maybe he is cheating on her who knows what goes with him and what goes in his mind, we don¡¯t know nothing.¡¯¡¯ Mom said and I could see that she deeply cares about me, I never felt it before but now I can see something meaningful. But why would she never show that side of her to be.


    Maybe that¡¯s how she thinks I must be protected.


    ¡®¡¯I appreciate your concern Daisy but she knows him well thats all that matter¡¯¡¯ grandma assured her.


    ¡®¡¯ That is true , but she still gotta be careful.¡¯¡¯ Abigail opened her mouth.


    ¡®¡¯ I trust him no matter what you people think of him.¡¯¡¯ I said loudly


    ¡®¡¯ We don''t gain anything by separating you both, we just need to protect you from a threat,  just try to understand that scarlet¡¯¡¯ mom said.


    ¡®¡¯ For Pete¡¯s sake can you both stop suspecting him? He is my boy I love him , I love him a lot and he loves me a lot , he cares about me a lot. He do . I know that and he is the best thing that ever happened to my life, I can assure you that. For god sake please love him like you guys did back when you guys got to know him, he is not a toxic person or a threat he is saviour , he helps me fight everything he helps me deal with things he does everything and most importantly he never left me when I told him that I couldn¡¯t be a mother, who would stay with such a girl? Who would stay with a girl whose family hates him for something that he never done? It''s him, it''s Pathum . He is not my bestie mom, he is my boyfriend yes it is true but please don¡¯t try to keep us apart you will only end up loosing your daughter. Just see good in him just like you guys did when you got to know about him. What changed ? ¡®¡¯ I said and instantly I felt relief as if I let go something heavy instilled deep within me.


    ¡®¡¯ You grades went down, your faith is questioned, your friends are less, your behaviour is different , you don¡¯t do your chores properly without crying about them, your don¡¯t love you sister and mom, you pick the side of someone who isnt a member of our family, you health declines, your phone bills are high, you sleep less and do talk less, all you do is stay with him and talk and talk and waste your precious time,thats whats changed Scarlet. Do you see why we are concerned now? He might be the most perfect man in the world but he is so far away from being that.¡¯¡¯ Mom said trying her best to sound loud and not disturb grandma. Abigail didn¡¯t spoke a word but still she nods at everything mom had to say.


    ¡®¡¯ Mom.¡¯¡¯ I couldn¡¯t say anything else. I don¡¯t know what else to say but accuse mom a liar, but I knew it will only bring troubles so I stayed silent , and I stayed silent on our way to home. I had a shower and got into bed with Mazie, I think I forgets her a lot as well.


    Poor Pathum he gets the blame for everything that is wrong with me.


    It is not fair. I took my phone and texted him,


    Pathum ; hi sweetie how are you? I am sorry I was late, slept a bit more today.


    Scarlet ; I am good sweetie, you needed your sleep, how is your headache now?


    Pathum ; I am good now, but I am sorry I slept 9 hours , you must have missed me a lot, I am so sorry I promise I wont sleep that much again.


    Scarlet ; sweetie you didn¡¯t do nothing to be sorry . stop saying sorry. I am happy that you are doing well and you needed the sleep than anyone, you deserve some sleep with everything that goes around you, your studies and your OCD. Boy you deserve some rest.


    And don¡¯t worry I spent the whole day , or we spent the whole day on grandma¡¯s house. Taking care of her and talking to her. Unfortunately pathum she is sick. I am worried about her.


    Pathum ; oh no I will pray for her, I know I don¡¯t believe in god that much, but I believe in you, so I will pray for you and grandma ,and wish the very best to both of you, so sweetie don¡¯t worry grandma is totally fine she is totally okay and so are you.


    Scarlet ; thank you sweetie , if not for you I don¡¯t know how to deal with these things that goes around. I love you sweetie.


    Pathum ; I love you too, don¡¯t forget you are a strong girl, strong country girl, my little angel, my precious angel.


    Scarlet ; and don¡¯t forget you are a strong precious prince.


    Pathum ; thank you so much sweetie! I am so glad I met you, so grateful to have met you, I think that is the best gift I ever got from the world, its you scarlet.


    Scarlet ; I could say the same exact thing sweetie.


    Pathum ; I wanna hug you


    Scarlet ; me too sweetie!


    Pathum ; Precious angel, now its time to sleep. I will focus on my studies while you take your rest. Please sleep sweetie don¡¯t argue.


    I told him everything that happened before I fell asleep. Everything . Not for once did he blamed my family for what they tried to do or to what they are trying to do now.


    How come he not hate them?


    I love you darling, I will forever be yours.

 Chapter 47

    Pathum POV


    I am so lucky to have a girl like scarlet, so lucky, the fact that she stood for me against her own mother and sister tell how much she loves me and how much she wanted me . I am so grateful to have a girl like her.


    My precious lil  angel


    I wish I had the money to go to her directly , so that theres no waiting , but life doesnt happen like that , life don¡¯t give us opportunities like that, if it so what would life be right ? life without obstacles well I don¡¯t have that kind of a life, but I am fine, I have scarlet, she¡¯s everything for me.


    I finished breakfast and focused on biology , I was struggling on physics so I focused on biology which is my favourite subject, so I studied studied about photosynthesis and did some past paper questions. I got them well.


    ¡°Son aren¡¯t you going to class today??¡± Mom asked me coming into the room.


    ¡°Going.¡±


    ¡°Go bath and come soon or you would be late.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Since the schools began and the corona lockdown thing ended, tuition classes too began and ours was no exception.


    So I bathed which took me an hour and few minutes which included toilet and bathing the body and washing the clothes.


    I bet my butt cheeks more fair than my face because I wash my butt more than I wash my face.


    If there ever was contest for the fairest butt I do know I knock my opponents in seconds


    Am I funny?


    I dressed and mom fed me lunch and after worshipping both mom and grandma I was on my way to class. Which is an hour ride, in two busses.


    The first bus ride was okay, though the bus was full of people and I made sure that I carefully touched the seats and bars making sure I never contact someone¡¯s armpit because I am foot shorter than the average man. Also I was searching for my friends but none were there.


    Also there were few girls on the bus and on the bus stand and I paid no attention or even glance at them because why would I anymore?


    Because I got a girl, an angel!


    I was actually proud that I didn¡¯t glance at them because all these ignorance is for the wellbeing of my girl. I mean I ignore all these girls for the sake of my angel. I know she wouldn¡¯t mind even if I look at girls. But that makes no sense I shouldn¡¯t look at any girl cause I have one, I have an girlfriend and it is my responsibility to take care of her and give her credits and make her feel like she owns the world.


    Are you trying to score points from her?


    I am not trying to score anything I am just doing what it is right and righteous. Every boy should be like me, and it is my dream to inspire other young boys to do the right thing.


    Are you mocking yourself? How come you be the perfect boy?


    I never said I am the perfect boy, I am just saying boys who has a girlfriend shouldn¡¯t glace at any other girl other than his girlfriend. That doesn¡¯t mean those boys cannot talk to any other girl but it just mean being loyal to your dearest girl.


    After getting down from the first bus I got into the second bus and it was less crowded than the first.


    While I was on my way into the class, my friends are already there.


    I saw my classmate Nipun staring at my direction as I made my way into the class opening the gate. And also I saw a fellow girl, a friend of his whispering some things to him while also staring at me, and the only thing I heard was


    ¡®¡¯It¡¯s him¡¯¡¯ and I saw Nipun smirking and nodding at her. I kept my bag and smiled at Nipun as if I never heard them or their concerned looks over mine.


    The first thing I did when I came into the class was remove my bag and then go to the washroom.


    To pee?


    Oh not for that


    Then?


    To poo


    Go to hell you can¡¯t do that here. There¡¯s no soap and there¡¯s people here you cannot linger here any longer


    Gosh ofcourse I am not gonna pee or poo, I am here to wash my hands, and why would I ?


    Why wouldn¡¯t I ? I used public transport and how come I lick my hands without washing them properly? I thoroughly washed my hands close to a minute since there weren¡¯t any soap. After drying my hands I applied hand sanitizer, I felt the burning sensation as the dirts and germs screamed in terror.


    ¡°Where are the others?¡± Nipun asked looking at my direction.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°On their way I guess.¡± I replied and he stared at that girl he was talking before maybe winked at her I dont know and neither do I care.


    They don¡¯t know


    So?


    Why not tell them?


    They don¡¯t deserve anything, let them sing their song and let me walk my path for I know my path is righteous and I don¡¯t need their consent. Fifteen minutes later Kavishka came.


    He¡¯s my former best friend¡¯s kinda bestie. Not mine.


    I mean he¡¯s fine, not disturbing annoying person, but still I don¡¯t have close friends except Scarlet.


    And I don¡¯t need anyone other than Scarlet!


    ¡°Aren¡¯t Kamal gonna come?¡± Nipun asked Kavishka.


    ¡°No he won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Dudes crazy!¡±


    Kamal, my former bestie did not attended the online classes since it started in April of this year and I was the one who sent him all the note. Also Kavishka didn¡¯t had a phone so he didn¡¯t attended the class. And during this lockdown I met a new friend who is nice and better than most of my real life friends, her name is Sewwandi. She¡¯s the one who sent me the notes when I missed the class or when I could¡¯nt properly write due to network issues.


    Eventhough we did talked a lot online I never even shared a single word with her, I mean it¡¯s just I am incapable of it, just I am stuttering thing.


    Stuttering foool!


    Anyway I want to tell Kavishka about Scarlet, cause I trust him but still I don¡¯t know how to do it. I told Manoj and Kamal but I didn¡¯t told anyone else and part of me is feeling guilty to keeping those news to myself. I mean I do all of them to protect her. It¡¯s not that I hate anyone it¡¯s just I want to protect Scarlet.


    The class was good, I was able to write note perfectly, I think my handwriting is something to admire. I mean back in 2012 I won a award/medal for best ¡®copy writing¡¯. Yeah I know I am quite the thing to be admired. Gosh I am kidding, my writing is okay sometimes it sucks and sometimes I love those beautiful letters.


    The class was two hours. Most tuition classes in Sri lanka, I mean most A/Level tuition classes last between three hours to eight or something like that with intervals included. But I think two hours perfect. No need of interval just let us go home right?


    Exactly


    We didn¡¯t talked much except about how¡¯s chemistry going on and how physics is behind us. Because my physics tuition class was not held in corona lockdown period from march to August. So we were ages behind everyone but it doesn¡¯t matter evenif we were ahead we will still or I will not able to understand those concepts


    Is it because I have a low IQ or the ones teaching doesn¡¯t know how to teach?


    I don¡¯t know.


    So as I said before I had to go in two buses. One is a longer ride about close to thirty minutes and the other is about five minutes in distance but takes usually fifteen minutes to cover that distant mainly due to train station. Shouldn¡¯t they implement a better traffic system?


    Who?


    The government. I mean this is government who I like, they did handled the first wave of corona successfully. I hope they would do better in future.


    The sun bus ride to home , which is the longer but also the fastest bus travel. What I am trying to say is this bus travel way faster than the other but also it takes a long time since there¡¯s a long distance to cover. Whatever let¡¯s not talk about stupid buses and travel.


    So this bus was hectic,


    Why?


    Because first we entered from the back and the bus was already packed with people and everyone was glued to each other so that means all sort of germs, sweat, saliva and what not were together like a curry given to you.


    Disgusting! Why the heck did I born to go through this?


    My friend Kavishka had none of my problems, he was a foot taller than me and he didn¡¯t had ocd, atleast to my knowledge. Since he was taller few were intimidated by him but guess what ? It wasn¡¯t so sweet from my end and what can I do but nod and shut my mouth?


    Twenty five minutes later bus arrived to Warakapola my city . I bid him farewell and within ten minutes I was at home. Before I went inside the house first thing was wash my hands which I did gladly making sure those sweat,saliva or whatever form of bodily secretions were washed away. And then I dry the hands and then add hand sanitizer and burn the hands and then and then only I take my phone, like a precious baby. I make sure no germ or dirt touch my phone. I kept my phone to charge and hurried to the well to bath.


    I didn¡¯t text Scarlet because I need to first bath and be clean enough to talk to her, I think mainly I need comfort it¡¯s very difficult to text with this dirt and stress.


    It took me few minutes to wash my clothes, especially the denim I hate washing them cause it takes so long and half of our energy get spent trying to battle with it.


    So yes I bathed again for the second the time, but it was the most refreshing and comforting thing to do the whole journey of my biology class.


    A bath a new life


    Once I came from  bath I grabbed my phone, it was fully charged and texted her.


    Pathum : Good morning sweetie! It was a hectic ride so wait let me explain things for you. So it took me an hour and twenty to bath and get ready. The ride was fine. So about girls yes there were few girls but I didn¡¯t glance at them. Not even one Pathum? Absolutely not! Why not? Because I got an angel in home waiting for me, that¡¯s why. Am I trying to score points right now? No ma¡¯am absolutely not! The reason I tell you is the reason why I don¡¯t look at them. And pardon me what is it? I am just mental. Hehehe!!! No sweetie I don¡¯t think I need to tell whether I am trying to score something or just letting go my burden. You know the answer. If someone telling you otherwise just know I AM not trying to score I JUST want you to know what happened in my life from the tiny bit of ant to the giant rabbit on moon. So I ingored all those girls and it was a fun, I mean where was the fun in going in public transport? Disgusting types of peoples, sick and other sorts of people travel and it is no fun. Never !! so as you know I traavelled on two buses. Everything was fine I never contacted anyone¡¯s armpit or body or else I was safe. It was fine until that smirk of my friend. A SMIRK? Well that¡¯s a exagerations ma¡¯am. There was not a smirk but there was a look, you know that bloody high headed looks guys give, and there was a bitch oh yes excuse me for my language, a tiny bitch was murmuring whispering things to him and guess what I never heard a single thing they uttered but I know what they talking. Remember my second crush? This little bitch is a friend of her. So yes, maybe it¡¯s just I assume things. Huh?! Hell no, just trust me somewhere along the line they did talked about me, trust me I don¡¯t give a shit nevertheless. Again sorry for my language.


    I am sick and tired of this explaining this crap!


    Suddenly out of nowhere I got mad instantly. But nevertheless I continued writing the message and forwarded it to her because that¡¯s what I do, everytime I go somewhere I would type everything to her and explain to her though she don¡¯t demand me to rtell her everything I guess it is part of my OCD ,it makes me say everything without leaving a single thing and I AM GLAD THAT I HAVE THIS TYPE OF OCD, because it is a good thing due to it I simply cannot lie. It¡¯s absolutely fine! Happily she slept more than eight hours and my girl deserve that much of sleep due to the things she go through on a daily basis and I am glad she took it.

 Chapter 48

    Scarlet POV (August 2020)


    I slept too much today I cant forgive myself for that. How can I ? it is my dang fault.


    And I am so sorry pathum.


    I missed the chance to be with him.


    Morning was usual , nothing new, mom yelling,sister growling and dad ignoring.


    ¡°You look like you haven¡¯t slept in ages.¡± Abigail said making a disgusted face at me.


    Don¡¯t even think about saying crap about him


    ¡°What?¡± I asked losing my patience, tired of the look she is giving me.


    ¡°What keeps you stay awake at night? listening to his childish gibberish? Gosh I couldn¡¯t be more stressed than be with him.¡±


    ¡°You would¡¯nt understand.¡±  I shook my head in annoyance.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I ?¡± she raised her brows


    Don¡¯t say it!  You¡¯ll only end up suffering for it!


    ¡°Trust me you wouldn¡¯t wanna know.¡± I smirked.


    Why the heck did I do that? Smirking at her? Gosh only way to troubles.


    ¡°What¡¯s the worse thing that could come out of a mouth that says that Pathum is adorable?¡±


    That¡¯s it! I am gonna burn this bi*ch!


    God forgive me for my language.


    ¡°You better watch that mouth of yours sister.¡± I said and she rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Whatever tell me that which you say that I am incapable of understanding.¡± she glared at me as if to snatch my soul.


    ¡°Do you really wanna know it Sister?¡±


    ¡°Yes I would.¡± she said. I forced a smile.


    ¡°You said you don¡¯t understand why I am so interested in him right?¡± I asked her, and she didn¡¯t even pay attention to me her face was fixed on her phone.


    ¡°Whatever gibberish!¡±


    ¡°It is because you don¡¯t know what true love is.¡± she froze when I uttered those words. Realising the incident I spit some more venom.


    ¡°Oh so you mean to say his love is pure and pristine?¡±


    ¡°Yes and one more thing, he never chose to replace me for someone better or forced me to play dirty unlike your lovers.¡± I cannot believe I just said those words, she glared at me as if her eyes would pop out any moment. Her surprised expression was so satisfying eventhough a part of me felt sad for her.


    She deserve it


    ¡°Scarlet, I hate to bring it to you, but your dream boy is just a dream boy, he is miles and miles away and he is just a piece of gibberish!¡±


    She stomped out of my sight after saying those words. She just came back few minutes later to focus on another target. It was my dad. So sister brought up the conversation which dad tries to ignores everyday.


    ¡° dad when are we going to have a proper meal? A proper breakfast or a proper dinner where all the members of family are together. When are we going to see such a meeting? Dad you must answer this, don¡¯t try to ignore us¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ I don¡¯t have time for this.¡¯¡¯ dad said.


    ¡®¡¯ you never had time for anything , don¡¯t you lie.¡¯¡¯ sister said in a loud voice


    ¡®¡¯ She is right. ¡¯¡¯I replied supporting her.


    ¡° exactly¡¯¡¯ mom entering from kitchen said.


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    ¡° whatever .¡¯¡¯ drinking his tea dad said


    ¡°Are you gonna keep running from us dear?¡± Mom asked him, he just drank his tea without answering.


    ¡°I am scared of talking to women, cause I know I will never get anywhere.¡± he laughed, mom and me looked at each other while Abigail rolled her eyes clearly not interested in his humour.


    ¡°Very funny.¡± Abigail let go of a fake laugh.


    ¡°Just eat your food.¡± dad said not daring to look at any of us, and he kept eating his breakfast. While none of had the appetite or mood to eat ours.


    ¡®¡¯ I wish we had a proper dad who cared about us , but guess what ?we have got something like you, useless, worthless and uncaring.¡¯ sister said and dad looked at each of us, she is not wrong , she must have been rude but she is not wrong. He doesnt cares about us like he need to . When was the last time he hugged us or shared a smile with us? When was the last time he cried with us? Never!


    Why can¡¯t he be loving rather than this grumpy man?


    ¡°True!¡± I said agreeing with her despite our differences.


    ¡°For twenty years I endured it but I don¡¯t think I could keep it any longer William.¡± Mom spoke supporting us trying her best to get something out of dad.


    ¡°Mmm is that so?¡± he replied drinking water.


    ¡°Mom¡¯s not wrong, she endured for so long I don¡¯t think she no longer need to stay at that state. She deserves a man who loves her, kiss her , hug her and someone who would take good care of her. She deserves someone who loved God as much as her and someone who would support her in her spiritual path.¡± Abigail kept saying and dad only cracked at her.


    ¡°Spiritual path?¡± he laughed.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Abigail asked. Dad turned at Abigail and siad something which broke my heart in an instant.


    ¡°You think you guys have a decent spiritual pathway when all you do is throw stones at your beloved sister¡¯s relationship?¡±


    ¡°Her relationship ain¡¯t got anything to do with this?¡± Mom said loudly.


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Abigail said staring at Dad.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± he raised his brows and directed his gaze at them, while I was flabbergasted by his surprising comeback especially the fact that he knows about my relationship and most importantly to raise his voice to something which he is not much aware.


    Then how would he know about it in the first place?


    ¡°Besides there¡¯s no relationship between them both, it¡¯s they have a strong connection online and that got nothing to do with her real life. She will get a righteous christian, a man who loves God more than anything.¡± Mom added further the conversation going out of our main topic.


    ¡°Exactly mom, especially not a immature gibberish child!¡± Abigai said and smirked at me.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about her relationship because she knows there¡¯s nothing between them than just a mere attraction due to spending more time with each other. They will both realise that they don¡¯t fit each other when they met, but we doens¡¯nt need to go that far or wait that longer to see that. I know my child, Scarlet is wise enough to undersgtand that he is not the righteous man to marry. She will realise soon and will definelty let go of him. I know she¡¯s smart enough to understand that he¡¯s not the man that she would marry.¡± Mom said, every word like a blade piercing my heart one word by word.


    I looked at Dad his expression clearly said that he didn¡¯t agreed to them.


    Please Dad say something! Please defend me, defend our relationship


    But dad just contemplated without speaking a single word. Getting tired of the mess they created Abigail brought back the main topic.


    ¡°Dad don¡¯t try to sneak away with this. Don¡¯t think bringing her gibberish would distract us. There¡¯s a special event at church this sunday and everyone will come there with thier parents and we are only family to have a single parent eventhough both the parents are still alive.¡±


    ¡°For years you travelled there alone why would you need me now?¡±


    ¡°Because William you are their father, you ought to be there for them.¡±


    ¡°Instead you are never there for us, just a useless man.¡± Abigail said and I slightly nodded in approval.


    ¡° so I am just a useless man?¡¯¡¯ dad said and nobody spoke. Sister started crying and dad stood from his seat.


    ¡®¡¯ so I am just a useless man? Huh ?¡¯¡¯ dad raised his voice. Mom tried to calm him but it was invain.


    ¡®¡¯ she didn¡¯t meant it that way¡¯¡¯ mom tried to explain but dad didn¡¯t listened. He yelled repeating what he said before.


    ¡®¡¯ you are useless dad, you are useless when was the last time we had a proper dinner? When was the last time you hugged any of us? Tell me, when was the last time you held our hands when we pray lord? You never even.. Ugh I sick of you¡¯¡¯ Abigail chocked tears.


    ¡®¡¯ so I am the useless man? so tell me who put the damn food on the table? Tell me who pays yours bills so that you could talk to your beloved loved ones? Tell me who pays the electricity bills and do all these stuff? Who pays for gas ? it is this useless man. This useless worthless unloving grumpy man does all of that for what? Just to hear you say your daily prayers at me.


    Just remember it the next time you ever remember a proper dinner.¡¯¡¯ dad slammed the door and left us to thinking, he told us something to think , he really did.


    I am glad Abigail got the right response from dad and I feel ashamed for agreeing with sister for a while.


    Dang me!


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Abigail said, I didn¡¯t realised that I had been staring at her the whole time.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    I excused them and hurried to my room, while mom caress her favourite child¡¯s hair. Also saw her hugging her and kissing her forehead. She didn¡¯t chased dad. I felt sad for dad, maybe deep down he wants a hug from us and that we were too busy to complain.

 Chapter 49

    Pathum POV (August 2020)


    I understand what her dad told them, he is not wrong he''s just not the adorable type person, he cares about his family but is not the type of person who keep saying sweet words and hugging them like they want him to be. It¡¯s just that¡¯s his nature. There¡¯s nothing wrong about his way,


    Not at all


    I think they need to understand him better and not jump into unwanted conclusions. I think it is the way he is taught to grow up so on outside he look like he doesn''t care about anyone but deep down he cares about everything. I need to explain that to her immediately before things get worsened.


    Scarlet ; so you thinks that dad loves us?


    Pathum; I believe he loves you and you guys have a mild misunderstanding. Look at what he said he does stuff for you and expect nothing back but love from you guys , but he doesn''t like to admit it. Think about the last time you thanked him for the bills he paid for you, you guys have rarely showed him love and in contrary you expect him to show love. When it is out of his league. Tough love sweetie!


    Scarlet ; I feel bad about my behaviour now, I need to go thank him and apologise him as well.


    Pathum ; good girl!


    I am proud of her , the fact that she understood what I said and felt the necessity to apologise is so humble and innocent. I love my girl so much, she is so unlike Abigail, cute and innocent.


    She is so pure unlike that bitch of a sister of hers.


    I am just so lucky to have a girl like her.


    Are you?


    Scarlet ; I just said sorry and thanked him and hugged him as well, he didn¡¯t said anything but I can feel he is happy, he avoided eye contact probably avoiding the shade of softness , he is trying to be tough I see that . I was wrong but now I am even. Thank you pathum you taught me a good lesson. I am glad you are my boyfriend. YOU are a sweet little boyfriend. Aren¡¯t you? Hehe. I am so thankful that I hugged him.


    Pathum; good girl!


    Scarlet ; is that all you gonna say today ?


    Pathum ; hehehe


    Scarlet ; you are a sweet thing


    Pathum ; not as sweet as you.


    Scarlet ; nope , I am not sweet.


    Pathum ; you are sweet and adorable.


    Scarlet ; not as much as you are


    Pathum ; so you are accusing me for lying?


    Scarlet ; no but I am simply saying I am not as sweet as you


    Pathum ; you are innocent


    Scarlet ; nope


    Pathum; you are kind


    Scarlet ; my mom and sis tell that I am not kind and that I will be a bad mother because I wasn¡¯t treating my dog well, I was trying to teach him a lesson when and where he needs to pee, so I punished him slightly for his misbehaviour , and they are telling me that I would do the same for my own kids and that I will not be a good mother. They tell me I am not gonna achieve my dreams.


    Pathum; let them have their opinion sweetie we cannot change their minds but we sure can change how we responds to them. Keep calm and quite , because  you are the most beautiful girl in this world. They are just jealous.


    Scarlet ; you think they are just jealous?


    Pathum ; correction ma¡¯am , not just jealous but extremely jealous.


    Scarlet ; but I don¡¯t think I am that good like you say though, I think you are just in love with me and that you perceive me as a beautiful kind soul and in truth I am just a ugly girl.


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    Pathum ; you are beautiful


    Scarlet ; yeah maybe


    Pathum; you are kind, you are good, you are nice, you are sweet, you are everything.


    Scarlet ; but I don¡¯t think they are jealous!


    Pathum ; they are jealous they always were, I am so sorry but they are, mom might not be jealous but she favours her elder daughter more. I am sorry you don¡¯t need their love I am here to love you so please forgot about them. Okay?


    Scarlet ; but maybe my sister is not jealous.


    Pathum ; I can proove it.


    Scarlet; how ?


    Pathum ; so you told me about your classmates, those 2 boys and boys in the supermarket who fell into things huh?


    Scarlet ; I don¡¯t like where this is going.


    Pathum ; so you still think they are not jealous?


    Scarlet ; no.


    Pathum ; let me proove it


    Scarlet ; okay¡­


    Pathum; all I need is your butt.


    Scarlet ; oh ho! My butt. You can¡¯t breath without it isnt that so right?


    Pathum ; well havent they denied that you got the best butt in the country? The best butt in the world? Havent they? They are so jealous that make them say you got a tiny butt, no girl you got a giant butt, and still they claims it not that big. How ridiculous they can simply be ? you see they are jealous .


    Scarlet ; but it doesnt prove them jealous.


    Pathum ; so what about the boys in your class, and every boy that fell into things in the supermarket just to have a look at your butt? What about them huh? So your tiny butt got their attention? Yes your butt did it but it is not tiny. Ma¡¯am the case is closed you are guilty of a big butt and your family is guilty of jealousy. No more protests, your family is jealous of your capabilities and that¡¯s sad but that¡¯s the truth.


    Scarlet ; you got me there, my cheeks are redder now my god.


    Pathum ; gotcha ! gotcha bitch! You know its like a catch phrase or like a saying


    Scarlet ; yeah I guess


    Pathum ; you okay?


    Scarlet ; I am fine.


    Pathum : What happened to your mood all a sudden?


    Scarlet : Nothing.


    Pathum : yeah nothing right?


    Scarlet : Yeah


    Pathum : you took me to a fool ma¡¯am?


    Scarlet : Mmm..


    Pathum : Scarlet! Darling what¡¯s wrong please tell me.


    Scarlet : Nothing Pathum! It¡¯s just memories!


    Pathum : what memories?


    Scarlet : it¡¯s just. I am being used to called bitch. Its not something new.


    Pathum ; oh god noooooo!! I never called you a bitch I just used a common catch phrase, Look what I said I said gotcha and then I used the term bitch , it wasn¡¯t addressing you sweetie , please I feel bad about it now, I never called you a bitch I just used a common saying. It wasn¡¯t referring to you as a bitch, sweetie please don¡¯t get it in the wrong way, heck I hate me.


    Scarlet ; I understand sweetie, I just got recalled by a memory.


    Pathum ; I am sorry sweetie!


    Scarlet ; its just a old memory , one of my classmates called me a bitch, well it was all because I reveal that she is skipping class to kiss her boyfriend. I was worried about her grades so I had to reveal it and guess what I lost my bestie right that day but who needs besties like them when you have a golden heart like you.


    Pathum ; I am sorry sweetie. Very sorry! Thank you for appreciating me but I don¡¯t think I deserve that praise when all I do is hurting you.


    Scarlet : Who said you are doing that?


    Pathum: your family and even you.


    Scarlet : Stop sweetie, you never hurt me, not at all. I believe you will only brightened my life.


    I felt so bad but for god sake I was not referring to her as the bitch I was just saying the catch phrase or saying like in movies and dramas. Well I said a million sorry afterwards and cried a lot because I felt so bad that my innocent girl got hurt by me. I promise I will make sure I wouldn''t hurt her again. I will take good care of her and protect her . I don¡¯t know whether I should pray for God, but I hope God read my thoughts and make sure she is alright. I hope tells her that it was only a joke or a stupid movie line and heal her heart of unwanted past.


    Pathum : Scarlet


    Scarlet : Yes Pathum?


    Pathum: I am so sorry sweetie!


    Scarlet : it¡¯s okay Pathum. Forgot about it now, let¡¯s move on


    Pathum : I feel so bad Scarlet! ??


    Scarlet : there¡¯s nothing to feel bad sweetie. Forgot it already.


    I kept saying sorry and apologising at her as best as I could cause nothing felt okay since I hurt her even unintentionally. I think I said a million sorry and just when I was about to score million and one I fell asleep.

 Chapter 50

    Scarlet POV (August 2020)


    Once I washed mazie I ate my breakfast , it was pretty earlier to have a bath for her but I did it anyway, dried her well with a towel.


    And to my surprise we got a visitor in town, my dear friend Lily visited us with her family. My dad is not a party person or a social person but he got along with her dad .


    ¡° where is your sister?¡¯¡¯ she asked me


    ¡®¡¯ I guess in her bedroom. On wattpad or with friends. In her own world. ¡®¡¯ I simply replied.


    Abigail Didn¡¯t visited us for an good hour or so, but she was there when mom prepared fruit juices to the guest. She wasn¡¯t very fond of lily , Lily is more of my friend not her type of friend.


    ¡®¡¯ so tell me more about your boy. Last time we met we didn¡¯t had that many time to talk, but today we got plenty.¡¯¡¯ she said clapping both her hands


    ¡®¡¯ well whatcha wanna know about him ?¡¯¡¯  I asked smiling


    ¡®¡¯ what he does , whether he is migrating here and what he does for living or any studies?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ he is the only child of their family and he doesnt work or anything because his parents provide for him and he is 18 and yes he will visit America and the reason behind it is me, I am the only reason why he chooses to be in America I am the only reason why he will maybe even live here, like full citizenship.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ that is adorable! I wish I got a boy like him¡¯¡¯ she said ,


    ¡®¡¯ show me him again, I wanna see.¡¯¡¯


    I showed her some pictures of himself as well as some of his photography . she was impressed. She was delighted. It was wonderful, whenever someone say something good about him it always pleases me, it is always a nice thing. But we couldn¡¯t talk more, cause my sister came into the middle of us.


    ¡®¡¯ whatcha doing here?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ talking about her boy friend hehe! ¡®¡¯ Lily said those words excitedly but he smile dropped at my sister¡¯s facial expression.


    ¡®¡¯ I don t see any good in him.¡¯¡¯¡¯she said


    ¡®¡¯ you never saw any good in anybody who did anything good for me.¡¯¡¯ I said anger boiling inside me.


    ¡®¡¯ its not like you got the most handsome man in the world , he is just a clown, he need to grow up and learn, he still needs in mom to dress him up , what a looser.¡¯¡¯ she couldn¡¯t say anything anymore caused I slapped her with all my fury. And she fell backwards and down. I did enjoyed it, the way she disrespected my boy , aint I going to let that be done to him by any. Lily was surprised at what happened but we grabbed nobody attention, Abigail got up to her feet and murmured to herself.


    ¡®¡¯ you slapped me infront of this bitch just to protect your freaking looser? God be with you cause I am going to tell mama.¡¯¡¯ she turned and left us.


    ¡®¡¯ I am sorry the way she talked to you .¡¯¡¯ I stared at Lily, she was on the verge of crying.


    ¡®¡¯ its okay! ¡®¡¯ Lily didn¡¯t moved from her seat , she was looking at the direction my sister walked. Expecting something or someone from that side.


    And 15 minutes goes by we hear lot of laughter in the backyard, and we didn¡¯t spoke to each other I was staring at my hand , it was red as blood and lily was confused she was shaking with fear.


    And then mom appeared , and touched me by the ear and dragged me out of that place into my room while ordering lily to go backyard , once we got into the room , she slapped me so hard I flew backward and couldn¡¯t tell which direction I first stood, I fell backwards but grabbed the bed sheets to steady myself.


    ¡®¡¯ you had done some great thing arent you? Are you so proud of what you did ? infront of your friend how could you humuliate your sister like that? ¡®¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ would you give me some time to explain what happened?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ you are grounded I will take your cell phones and will not give it back till I think it is right .¡¯¡¯ she grabbed my phone and slammed the door and it was me and mazie in the room. I cuddled mazie and cried , I couldn¡¯t stop the tears they cascaded like a waterfall. And then someone opened the door.


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    It was Lily . I am surprised.


    ¡®¡¯ that was so wrong scarlet, that was so wrong¡¯¡¯ she said , I couldn¡¯t reply as I choke my tears every time I tried to speak . I kept crying.


    ¡®¡¯ I am sorry , I am sorry for what happened today.¡¯¡¯ I said while tears flowed through my face.


    ¡®¡¯ it is never your fault, they cant do this to you, it was so wrong of them to do so. I will inform your dad about this , you stay there.¡¯¡¯ soon she left and arrived 10 minutes later with a happy face.


    ¡®¡¯ he will give you your phone, don¡¯t you worry scarlet things shall be good. I will pray for you scarlet, don¡¯t you worry, you have the best boy in the world don¡¯t let them ruin your head they are just bad . bad people. It was so wrong of them to do what they did to you. I don¡¯t know how I could handle if something like that happen to me.¡¯¡¯ she said hugging me , I wanted that hug from her, it was like god gave me his hand. I need to talk to him immediately I cannot wait to tell him all about today ,


    God Pathum where are you ?


    I need you more than ever, please god don¡¯t take him away I cannot stay with out him .


    Lily left us in the evening  and we had our dinner both mom and sis scolded me for my behaviour while dad listened.


    Right when I was about to fall asleep I got a knock on the door, it was dad. And he gave me my phone, I couldn¡¯t tell how much sad I felt for him. I hugged him . I treated him bad, I should have loved him better than I ever did for mom. Now I see who the real devil is, I thought it was my dad, I always took mom¡¯s side and isolated him, I shouldnt have done that to him. I will never isolate my dad again.


    For my surprise he kissed my forehead and blessed me a good night. I got to the bed and texted him , and I couldn¡¯t wait for his reply,


    Pathum :?? sweetie I am so sorry for everything.


    Scarlet : It¡¯s okay Pathum. I guess I gotta get used to this.


    Pathum : You can¡¯t live like that sweetie.


    Scarlet : I will if I have to Pathum, if that¡¯s what it takes to keep you in my life. I will glady endure that pain for you. To held your arm and feel your heat around me. Anything Pathum!


    Pathum : But that¡¯s not fair.


    Scarlet : Nothing is ever fair Pathum.


    Pathum : Scarlet ??


    Scarlet : yes ?


    Pathum : I am so sorry for everythig you go through for me. I wish I HAD A magic wand so that I COULD Be there for you.


    Scarlet : You got one though.


    Pathum : REALLY? WHERE?


    Scarlet : Between your legs! ??


    Pathum : ?? I don¡¯t feel like laughing Scarlet. I JUST FEEL horrible that I couldn¡¯t be there for you. I just want To hug you and let that pain go away.


    Scarlet : It¡¯s their loss, everything they do will only distance me from there. And when I have you I will let them go, I won¡¯t ever look back. It¡¯s their loss.


    Pathum : But remember they are your family.


    Scarlet : After everything they did to me you bravely took their side didn¡¯t side didn¡¯t you?


    Pathum : Sweetie, they means nothing to me, to me the only person that matter is you. But that doesn¡¯t mean I should pour hatred into your head and make your home a living hell.


    Scarlet : it¡¯s already a hell Pathum.


    Pathum : Let me share your a quote from Lord Buddha.


    Scarlet : Sure! Go ahead!


    Pathum : Hatred does not cease by Hatred for it can be diminish only through love!


    Scarlet :??


    Pathum : That¡¯s like the only quote I know from Buddha, hehehe. I mean I know one or two more but this quote is so good. It means a lot.


    Scarlet : it¡¯s makes so much sense Pathum.


    Pathum : Wise as Pathum? Eyy?


    Scarlet : Exactly !!


    Pathum : It¡¯s time to bed sweetie!


    Scarlet : I don¡¯t think I WOULD fall asleep Pathum.


    Pathum : You mean the pains keeping you awake? I am sorry sweetie.


    Scarlet : it¡¯s fine.


    Pathum : You can¡¯t take pain killers either right?


    Scarlet : Mom wouldn¡¯t let me.


    Pathum : I am sorry sweetie.


    Scarlet : But she would allow Abigail to do so and when I argue she would tell me to shut up and obey her orders.


    Pathum : It¡¯s okay sweetie. Just know this pain is what makes you , you. This pain is unique to one gender and I have to say I am so proud of you. How far you have come along this journey and how you endure this pain. You go through a lot, both physical and mental pain but still you are standing and breathing. Sweetie I love you and I am so proud of you. Just remember that whenever there comes an opportunity that tests your limit. You are my wife, the best girl ever. I love you and I will forever cherish you and I won¡¯t ever give up. So please sweetie don¡¯t ever think this pain is useless, it is definitely unfair but it¡¯s the nature of this world. Remember God has a reason for what you are going through. He has a plan. Trust in him sweetie. I may not love him as much as you do but that doesn¡¯t matter keep trusting him and cherish the simple idea that you are unique and strong. You are strong sweetie! Please close your eyes, don¡¯t argue close your eyes and let slumber take you away, while you are away I promise I will be productive as best as I can and study well. I love you! Goodnight!

 Chapter 51

    Pathum POV (August 2020)


    How could they do that to my innocent girl? Poor baby , I hate them how can they do this to my sweetie ? its all my fault, I am the reason behind her misery, I am the reason why she is suffering I shouldnt have come into her life, but I did ,


    but please God forgive me!


    I can''t leave her she is my girl I love her, I am just not that strong enough to do that. If I left her, her family would stop treating her like that.


    I am so sorry scarlet that you have to go through all these terrors because of me.


    I should do something for her, I should take her out of that misery. I cannot let her die in that pain.


    Worrying about things I cannot control will get me no where, I must focus on my studies


    Then study you idiot!


    Scarlet ; good morning!


    Pathum ; good morning sweetie!


    Scarlet ; I am sorry I slept that long


    Pathum ; I wanna hug you sweetie. I am so sorry that I caused you all these troubles, it is my fault that you are going through all of this pain.


    Scarlet ; please no, don¡¯t blame yourself for any of this, you are not the reason its them , they are just evil people.


    Pathum ; they pray to God right ? how could they do all these sins? How could they say they love Jesus when they break us apart?


    Scarlet ; I don¡¯t understand sweetie


    Pathum ; I wanna hug you, I wanna help you, I cant stay here like this, I cant stop thinking about this, you are my girlfriend, you are my girl, you are my darling, you are my mom, my lil mom. Sweetie I wanna scream so bad, why are we so far away?


    Scarlet ; sometimes I doubt God, I just cant-


    Pathum ; no sweetie trust in God , don¡¯t doubt God. Keep believing and keep praying all shall be well, we¡¯ll be together oneday and then we can be happy. It will be tough yes I admit it, but we can survive sweetie ,keep praying okay sweetie? I may never come to the level of faith you have for God but don¡¯t give up on him, keep the faith.


    Scarlet ; I just cant do this anymore,I have got to go school. I¡¯m sorry sweetie I have to go now, I will text you when I comeback, until then talk with Annabelle.


    I had my evening tea once she departed , I texted  her, Annabelle woke up an hour later and I told her everything she needed to know


    Annabelle ; I cant believe they did that to her.


    Pathum ; it is my fault. If I hadnt come into her life then everything shall be good, she wouldnt have to go through any of this.


    Annabelle; not true! they treated her badly even before you stepped into her life. I realised a lot about them recently and I can guarantee you , it is not your fault.


    Pathum ; scarlet is such an innocent girl, she don¡¯t deserve this pain, I wished I could do something that will free her.


    Annabelle ; you really could or in other words you are the only one who could help her. Pass your exams and move into US and take her away from them .


    Pathum ; I know , but it will take some time to get me into US, I will have to pass this exam and get a scholarship if that works that way or else I don¡¯t know I wish I get a scholarship in anyway for passing this exam, I don¡¯t know if that works that way. But lets see!


    Annabelle ; you have to do your best to rescue her, you are the only one who can help her out of it. So please do your best to rescue her. You have to study hard in order to do that. She believes that you will rescue her, you must. She cannot live with those people.


    Pathum ; I will study hard , I promise. I always study hard but sometimes I forget things so quickly , but thats okay I can study more and try to remember them.


    Annabelle ; God will guide you, please keep praying. You must pray and trust in God, he will surely help you with this troubles.


    Pathum ; I understand .


    Annabelle ; so whatcha wanna talk about ?


    Pathum ; well since scarlet is not here lets talk about you. Whatya doing? Like do you have any dreams that you wanna achieve or do you like any goals or anything that you wanna achieve ?


    Annabelle ; I have one primary goal and that is find my biological mom and meet her, talk to her and tell her how much I miss her and how my life could change with her in my side.


    Pathum ; I¡¯m sorry about that. So your current mom how is she treating? Is she good? Or does she treat you wrong?


    Annabelle ; She is fine, she loves me as her own, there is nothing wrong with our relationship except my dad, he doesnt love me he treat me wrong, he hurts me all the time , he blames me , he accuses me and he is no good as a dad. He never loved me , I just don¡¯t understand what is with him


    Pathum; I¡¯m sorry Annabelle . I wish you had better dads, you know the same thing could be said about scarlet but lately he opened up and we found out he is actually a caring person, so maybe your dad doesnt show you affectionate but deep down he might be loving you, just he doesnt want to show it, like tough love. You have to just examine him well and he might reveal his truth. Maybe there is something which proves his truth. Real affection.


    Annabelle ; there is one thing I think I need to say.


    Pathum ; tell me


    Annabelle ; he never believed in God, until I . when I was given birth my heart had stopped functioning and he had prayed and the next thing we know is I am breathing, I came back to life, my heart which had stopped functioning started to function. So from that day onwards he prays to God and gives his life to God because I was alive, so the reason he pray and believes God is me but at the same time he hates me for everything, he criticizes me every time he can, I don¡¯t understand his love. Why does he hates me?


    Pathum ; maybe he cant forgive himself


    Annabelle ; for what?


    Pathum ;  thats what you need to figure out, if you can figure it out and give a solution to that maybe all things shall be good.


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    Annabelle ; I wish


    Pathum ; lets forget about it now. Lets talk about something else, what about books do you read them?


    Annabelle ; I read religious books, bible and few novels. Mostly religious books is all I read .


    Pathum ; thats nice. What are you favourite ?


    Annabelle ; bible , I love the bible , I have read it like fewer times. Maybe 3 or 4 times completely .


    Pathum ; okay that is nice, I have not read the bible yet but scarlet found this app for me where we could read the bible, so I read about few chapters, soon I am hoping to go read it full time and finish it. But I doubt I can do that soon, because I got this exam and since I have the exam I cant do it anymore, I need to finish the exam and then  read the bible , I always wanted to read it , but since scarlet came into my life I wanted to read the bible than ever but unfortunately I couldn¡¯t .


    Annabelle ; that is so nice of you to do so.


    Pathum ; thank you !


    We did talked about some food and played some games and then it was dinner. I had my dinner and fell asleep. When I woke up she is already home from school.


    Scarlet ; good morning prince charming.


    Pathum ; good morning sweetie, I am sorry I slept too much.


    Scarlet ; you needed it. How are you doing now?


    Pathum ; I am good sweetie how was school?


    Scarlet ; it was good nothing special happened.


    Pathum ; okay.


    We did talked about the weather and she had a shower , and I drank my morning tea. And we got into our group chat.


    Annabelle; how was school?


    Scarlet ; it was alright!


    Pathum ; was your butt okay?


    Annabelle ; what-


    Scarlet ; omg pathum , not here .


    Annabelle ; what DO YOU MEAN NOT here?


    Scarlet ; oh nothing nothing forgot about what he said.


    Pathum ; the truth shall be revealed, the lord will reveal the truth.


    Scarlet ; stop-


    Annabelle ; what truth?


    Pathum ; that scarlet got a big butt.


    Scarlet ; I¡¯m dead !


    Annabelle ; Rest in peace !


    Pathum ; the butt God send his regards to scarlet.


    Scarlet ; you love butts don¡¯t you ?


    Annabelle ; and now he is dead.


    Scarlet ; exactly !


    Pathum ; I don¡¯t love butts, I just love one, and that butt is all I want ma¡¯am , don¡¯t you ever disrespect me again. I don¡¯t and never loved butts I just admire your butt scarlet, just that only now then and forever.


    Scarlet ; omg pathum I know that , you didn¡¯t have to go for details, she can read your messages too so please be respectful and careful.


    Pathum ; send me your butt on a box.


    Scarlet ; I wish I can do that mister


    Annabelle ;  so is this only about her butt? Is there nothing we can talk about?


    Pathum ; common symptom. Jealousy !towards your peers.


    We all had a laugh and that is when I thought to I need to write a special message to Annabelle. Reminding her how special she is to scarlet and how important it is to live a life.


    Pathum ; Hello there! This is an important message for Annabelle, reminding her how special it is to have a life and live it, so there is many things that I wanted to be included so that it carries the right message to you, first of all you are a little sister to me so you are my Lil sis and I care about you, I know it has been few months since we had met but I learned a lot about you during this short period, a lot, so I think it is the right time I type a good message to you portraying your importance for me and scarlet. Yes I know we didn¡¯t began our friendship on a good note but that is okay, you were clouded with wrong opinions and that lead you to have a negative impression on me and act wrong towards me. I have forgiven you with everything , don¡¯t you be scared for anything cause you had done nothing and it wasn¡¯t your fault you were protecting your bestie, scarlet. The queen of all. You were doing everything to protect her from any disaster and give her the best life you think she deserve .  so LIL SIS you are a very important friend and I admire you for everything you had done for scarlet, you did everything good for her. You have a nice heart and you are a nice soul! God is with you all the way. God will protect you from anything bad that could happen.


    I know recently your mom got sick and your dad had being rude to you but always remember you are loved by some, I love you, scarlet loves you we all love you and we are so sorry that you don¡¯t have your biological mom with you , we are so sorry. But remember you will end up on a good place , you will end up in a good place  , your life shall be good keep praying and things shall be good. You have an amazing mom so don¡¯t you worry she will love you and about your dad, I am sorry about him, some of us have to accept tough love and that is so difficult I know that is difficult but keep going don¡¯t ever give up . you are worth more than you think you are.


    I don¡¯t have a permanent solution for your dad but I suggest to examine him well and figure out why he is angry , you can thank him for everything he has done to you and ask him for his forgiveness and learn what is wrong with him. Give him love even if he denies it but don¡¯t pressure him . Ask God what''s wrong with him, ask God deeply what is the matter with him and he shall reveal to you what you should do , and about mom we will pray for her we will indeed pray for her, and she will be healthy and safe , don¡¯t be scared about her she will get back soon and she will love you like her own. You can ask her somethings that will figure whY dad is like the way he is maybe mom might know the answer to your problems. I and scarlet will keep you in our prayers and soon all shall be well.


    So now your importance to scarlet,is immense . You are a very important person in her life, when I am not here to help her it is you who helps her, it is you who talks to her ,it is you who prays for her, you see you are a very important person in her life and you shall always be a very important person. You love her more than her own family, her family is wicked and you know about them better than I could say in a single message. You know how bad they treat her and your love is one thing that helps her survive, so if you ever had a suicidal thought remember it is not just your life that you are attempting to kill but also the life of scarlet and everyone around you , even though some people acts like the don¡¯t care they actually do care about you they just don¡¯t show it well because of their rude behaviour . so don¡¯t let your mind take control over you , don¡¯t ever let that happen, always remember your mom¡¯s love you , your dad do love you and before all remember scarlet love you so much , your are her friend, the friend she needs and the friend she didn¡¯t had and you are my LIL SIS of course I wanna protect you and help you, so next time when you have a suicidal thought remember it is okay to have them but keep your faith. Your faith shall keeps you alive.


    Don¡¯t ever take your life , don¡¯t you ever leave me and scarlet. We need you in our relationship , we love you and don¡¯t forget that. You are like the only friend that helps our relationship , you are there when we have a argument or when it look like we are about to be separated. You keep us together and we keep you together with us. I love you LIL SIS, thank you for supporting me and scarlet.


    Annabelle ; OMG!


    Scarlet ; TADAA!


    Pathum ; read it ! read it!


    Annabelle ; I will ! thank you so much for writing this message I needed it now, it is like god just answered my prayer. Thank God, Pathum.


    She read the message and was in tears afterwards. She realised her importance.


    It didn¡¯t bothered me that she praised God than me or before me. It¡¯s their nature I don¡¯t mind, I never wrote it to gain praise but to insist some meaning to her. To convince her that her life is important and that she is loved.

 Chapter 52

    Scarlet POV (September 2020)


    It was cute of him to write that letter for her. She realised many things she hadn''t before.


    I am proud of my boy he is such a good boy. I thank God for bringing him into mine. He is truly a blessing! We talked about the message he sent and Annabelle was emotional about it. And we talked few things and we fell asleep while my boy probably fell into his studies.


    I was able to get up earlier the next morning. But we didn¡¯t got the chance to talk . mom drive me to school . the first period was english boring what else can I say about english. I stayed in the class because I have to stay.


    After we had a free period as the teacher was absent . I got the chance to talk with Lily , and she was interested in talking .


    ¡®¡¯ tell me more about your boy.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ Gosh can we take a break from him? You always wanted to know more about him so whatcha wanna know about him?¡¯¡¯  I asked as she focuses her eyes on mine.


    ¡®¡¯ anything that you wanna say about him. Does he have some dreams , dreams that he wanna achieve?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®he dreams of becoming a doctor and a writer.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ oh well that is interesting. What else.¡¯¡¯ she asked.


    ¡®¡¯ well his biggest dream is to marry , marry me and live with me.¡¯¡¯ I smiled as I said those words


    ¡®¡¯ that is so cute!¡¯¡¯ she smiled back


    ¡®¡¯ everybody pay your attention someone is in love with someone else.¡¯¡¯ Richard winked at me but I avoided his eyes.


    ¡®¡¯ it is none of your business¡¯¡¯ Lily defended me


    ¡®¡¯  it is our business, it is our business, she is our princess, it is definitely our responsibility to take care of the princess.¡¯¡¯ Daniel said supporting richard.


    That jerk just called me his princess, this aint gonna end well to both of them.


    ¡®¡¯ say sorry now, because I am not your princess.¡¯¡¯ I said anger slowly building up.


    ¡®¡¯ you are not mine, but you are ours¡¯¡¯ Daniel said laughing at me .


    ¡®¡¯ I am not your princess you jerk!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ oh slow down, slow down ,your prince may be so dissapointed , he will have a heart attack if he gets to know that his princess got mad. Oh wait he will be dissapointed to know that his hashtag LIL MOM got assaulted. Oh lil boy be so dissapointed.¡± He laughed. I stood there frozen.


    How did he know?


    ¡®¡¯ oh how we know about your prince ?oh dear we know a lot about you and your boy your sister Abigail told us that he is such as pain in the butt for her and mom and that he needs to grow up ad be a man now cause he is too old to be a baby .¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ he is fine, don¡¯t you dare talk to him that way.¡¯¡¯ I said


    ¡®¡¯ or else whatcha gonna do? ¡®¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ I know what I need to do when I need to do so.


    ¡®¡¯ oh did you forgot to breastfeed your lil boy ?¡¯¡¯ that was it , I couldn¡¯t control my anger I couldn¡¯t do it anymore I went near him and punched him as hard as I could, I didn¡¯t mind if he lost a tooth he lost some of his blood I assure you that.


    He got the help of the medic while I was called to the principal office while they also called my mom to pick me up from school for my bad behaviour . well merry christmas .


    ¡°¡¯ scarlet you are grounded I don¡¯t care what you dad has to say about it but you are grounded I will not return my phone as long as your behaviour gets back to normal.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ what do you mean?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ whats with your anger , you gotta control it . he is not the first that was assaulted by you.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ assaulted¡¯¡¯ I looked at mom, all that she had was a dissapointing look .


    ¡®¡¯ you slapped many people, you are not who you were , and you are supposed to be.¡¯¡¯


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    ¡®¡¯ if not for your favorite daughter none of this would happen.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ whats that supposed to mean?¡¯¡¯ she asked me


    ¡®¡¯ ask her about that. She didn¡¯t had to tell my privacy matter to people in school, she didn¡¯t had to say he need to grow up and all sort of negative things about him. She could have told nothing if so nothing bad would happen.


    ¡®¡¯ scarlet I am so sorry darling.¡¯¡¯ mom said, I was surprised at her kindness. I broke into tears while we drove into home without a single word . just silence.


    As soon as we got home mom grabbed my arm and my sisters and dragged us to her room.


    ¡®¡¯ do you know what she has done in the school?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ how do I know?¡¯¡¯


    ¡°¡¯ well you are so sick arent you thats why you stayed home? ¡®¡¯


    ¡®


    ¡®¡¯ of course I am sick, you think I am lying ?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ no I don¡¯t doubt about that from my favourite daughter but I doubt whether you were lying on last week when you were at school.


    ¡®¡¯ what do you mean?¡¯¡¯ she asked.


    ¡®¡¯ why Abigail ? why did you do that to me ? please why do you hate me? Why cant you be nice about him?¡¯¡¯ I said while teas cascaded down through my cheeks. She looked at me and then at mom and vice versa and finally bowed , looked down with her hand on her mouth she said.


    ¡®¡¯ I am sorry!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ sorry? You werent sorry then was you?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯ I am so sorry scarlet! It is my fault ¡®¡¯


    She hugged me , and mom joined us too.


    While on my way to my room I said sorry for the slap . she said it was okay but I could else in her eyes, I felt fury in her eyes.


    As soon as I picked my phone I texted him and told him everything, I should tell him how can I cover them up? I cant let nobody disrespect him.


    Pathum ; I am sorry Scarlet. I am so sorry this is the 2nd time you got into trouble for me, the 2nd moment that I got to know, you go through a lot more than that for me.


    Scarlet ; it is all worth it!


    Pathum ; no it isnt , I am just a looser and you don¡¯t deserve this.


    Scarlet ; I got into troubles because people disrepected you , I wont let anybody disrespect you I wont let anybody do that. And I ask you kindly don¡¯t disrespect yourself. You are worth to be more than anything in this world.


    Pathum ; I am sorry , I wish I was there so you could hug me , if it was so there wouldnt be so much troubles. But unfortunately we are far away . I will do my best to pass this exam and soon we shall be together.


    Scarlet ; you better be studying cause I am done with these people. I hate these people. I don¡¯t wanna live with them anymore.


    Pathum ¡®; you know try not to touch boys again okay?


    Scarlet ; the hell?


    Pathum ; just don¡¯t touch boys again, let them say anything we cant stop their mouth but we can control us


    Scarlet ; you are so worried that I touched boys but you didn¡¯t cared to ask how I am even doing what is wrong with you?


    Pathum; I just told you not touch boys would you be pleased if I touched girls huh? Neither am I . so turn down the speakers would you ?


    Scarlet ;dang it , you worry nothing about me you are just like the rest of them,


    Pathum ; I am always worried about you so please stop talking that way, you have no right to talk to me that way.


    Scarlet ; I am so done with you


    Pathum ;  you have to control your anger young lady or else there will be bigger troubles. You understand?


    Scarlet ; please why do you speak this way ?


    I shut my phone and cried. My phone vibrated a dozen times from his messages,I didn¡¯t opened them until I was done crying.


    Scarlet : Why do you cARE? NOW? You didn¡¯t cared about me earlier why bother now?


    Pathum : I always care about you Scarlet!


    Scarlet : That¡¯s such a lie, all you worried was whether I TOUCHED them but never stop to ask me whether I am okay?


    He cares about you nonetheless


    Pathum : Sweetie I care about you so much. I am sorry for the way I responded. I was just jealous that a boy is close to you, it is my fault. I am sorry sweetie. ??


    I told you so


    Scarlet : ??


    Pathum : Please don¡¯t cry. I am sorry ??


    Scarlet  : It¡¯s okay


    Pathum : No it¡¯s not. I am sorry. Please if you was near me  I would have hugged you and kissed you. I hate our seperation.


    I want nothing other than you Pathum.


    Scarlet : ??


    Pathum : Stop crying sweetie. Are you gonna sleep now?


    Scarlet : If i don¡¯t mom would explode Pathum.


    We talked for few minutes, he kept crying and saying sorry and eventually I fell asleep.

 Chapter 53

    Pathum POV (September 2020)


    My darling girl just went through a lot, I should have talked to her in a better way,


    crap my mouth ,my damn mouth. I should have been better. I behaved so wrong.


    She got into all that troubles because of me and here I am mocking her and bossing her. I should have talked to her in a sweet tone, she must be so hurt now.


    What can I do now? I should just kill myself . why did I hurt her why ?


    why Pathum ?


    why did you hurt her? She went through all those pain for you and you just hurt her like that? So many questions . so many questions and without answers Pathum you must be disgraced ! how could you let her go through all those hell and you here do nothing about it? Just how?


    You are a pathetic loser, do you know that? You are a freaking looser!


    If you wanna curse do that already because you are too weak to admit it isnt that so right ? please understand me I didn¡¯t hurt her I was telling her she has to control her anger or else she is in danger I didn¡¯t meant to hurt her, I know she is hurt I know she went through a hell and is living in a hell I dislikes it as much as you, so who is you ? it is just me, I and pathum. So who¡¯s I then? Its pathum. God why am I so freaking confusing myself? I have two choices that is continue to blame myself for something that I am not responsible or go talk to her and comfort her.


    Pathum ; sweetie good morning!


    Scarlet ; morning


    Pathum ; sweetie what is wrong?


    Scarlet ; nothing.


    Pathum ; sweetie tell me


    Scarlet ; it¡¯s just my freaking body it hurts,its like my intestines are being twisted and ripped apart.


    Pathum ; you are going to be a great mom for all the pain you go through sweetie


    Scarlet ; bullcrap


    Pathum ; I understand that you are in pain


    Sweetie.


    Scarlet : Whatever!


    Pathum : I am so sorry for what¡¯s going on there.


    Scarlet : I wanna cry!


    Pathum : Aww sweetie. Go ahead.


    Scarlet  : But I need someone to hug me and wipe my tears.


    Pathum : I WIsh I was there.


    Scarlet : Wishes don¡¯t come true unless you work hard on them Pathum.


    Pathum : True!


    Scarlet ; sweetie I am so sorry for the way I acted before, I am sorry for being rude. I shouldnt have acted the way I acted its my fault. I am sorry.


    Pathum ; don¡¯t say sorry, you did nothing wrong it was my fault I should have hugged you and comforted you but instead I hurt you , it is not your fault it is damn my fault


    Scarlet ; I just wanna sleep I don¡¯t feel okay.


    Pathum ; please do sleep


    Scarlet ; I cant . mom just yelled , I gotta get ready for church.


    Pathum ; I forgot it was Sunday. You got church so I will miss you


    Scarlet ; I know.


    Pathum ; can you stay today? For me?


    Scarlet ; I wish I could but I am sorry I cant.


    Pathum ; I understand sweetie, if I was there we both could have gone to church together, it would be so beautiful.


    Scarlet ; you are cute


    Pathum ; no you are the cute one , I am just an ugly boy.


    Scarlet ; don¡¯t even start, you are the most handsome man I ever known in my life and you will always be the most handsome man.


    Pathum ; and you will always be the most sweetest girl in the world. My sweet girl.


    Scarlet ; why do you love me this much ? what¡¯s so special about me ? I am just a useless girl but you give me the attention that a queen deserves. I am just saying I am worthless.


    Pathum ; and I am just saying I am worthless too!


    Scarlet; you got me.


    Pathum ; gotcha!


    Scarlet ; no bitch today?


    Pathum ; donkey!


    Scarlet ; heyyyy did you just called me a donkey? Huh!


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    Pathum ; HEHEHE HEHEHE HEHEH HEHEHE


    SCARLET ; you are so cute!


    Pathum ; and you are so innocent.


    Scarlet ; I can guarantee you I am not that innocent.


    Pathum ;  of course you are a devil, but I am not talking about that I am just saying you are so cute , nope not cute but innocent you are so innocent I don¡¯t know how to define it but you are always my innocent girl.


    Scarlet ; gotta go sweetie I will text you when I come back until then study and have a good night.


    I missed her the moment she left, but that is okay, she is gone for her church to get close to god and I need to study , I need to stay focused on my studies.


    So I took my biology book and started to study , studied about evolution, that is a very interesting topic to be discussing but unfortunately a heartbreaking topic as well, because my sweet girl believes in a creation while I am stuck between creation and evolution. I am confused on what to do I am confused on what to choose, I kinda believes the evolution but is not a die hard fan of it because I don¡¯t understand things but my sweet baby believes in a creation, I feel so sad about myself and her I feel so sad that it breaks me cause I cannot share the same opinion as her , but that does not mean I disrespect her .


    I believe her I accept I don¡¯t believe in god as much as she believes but I believe in her as much as she believes in her or in fact I might believe in her more than she believes in her, so yeah. Sooo yeah! What can I say ?


    I missed my sweetie. I wish she was here so she could be talking with me but no she is not here with me because she is gone to church , I hope she shall come back to us soon.


    Us? Well me and I . when she comes back I will probably be asleep. But that is okay I will do everything in my power to become the very best bio-science student and pass this A/L exam and fly to USA. And meet her and marry her and live with her for the rest of time happily. She , mom and me . I wish I could achieve it soon.


    Am I dreaming too much?


    I don¡¯t know Pathum!


    I did studied few pages of biology and then laziness came to me and loneliness along with it so I got to bed and fell asleep.


    When I was up she has arrived home. I walked outside and the sky look beautiful, the sky before a sun rise is always beautiful. It is pleasant , slight red and orange mixture and clouds in between. I took some pictures and send them to her.


    Scarlet ; Wow! Those are marvellous ! how could you capture so beautiful things.


    Pathum ; I guess I am blessed with beautiful things , you being one of them.


    Scarlet ; thank you !


    Pathum ;  you are very welcome ma¡¯am. And hey can I ask you a question?


    Scarlet ; go ahead.


    Pathum ; how much do we got before you go back to church?


    Scarlet ; about 15 minutes. Why


    Pathum ; can you stay today? Please I want to talk to you. Just oneday wont be that of a problem .


    Scarlet ; wish I could , but no sweetie I gotta go


    Pathum ; whats the point anyway? What is your point ? your mom and sis are such evil bitches and yet they seek the love of god what kind of people are they ? and what do you get by loving god ? arent you blessed with horrible parents and siblings? What is the point anyway?


    Scarlet ; I am done talking to you.


    Pathum ; I just told you some truths , its a matter of fact whether you see the reality in them.


    Scarlet ; you were being so disrespectful and rude.


    Pathum ; I was being dead honest and real and if I were in your position and my girl asked me to wait I would but its the other way around here isnt it?


    Scarlet ; bye see you soon!


    Pathum ; leave like you always do!


    Horrible and terrific!


    Are there many words in the vocablary that I could fit into this situation that ¡®d be a lot of fun, but hell why couldn¡¯t she wait for me? She always have to pray this god who does no good to her, I don¡¯t understand their faith just horrific!!wow! My language is bit developed. I didn¡¯t studied anything for the next thirty minutrs except blaming and questioning her, luckily she wasn¡¯t hear to listen to my rumbling.


    Damn it!


    I should have watched my mouth I was being freaking rude to my girlfriend


    why? Why? Why ? why in earth was I rude to her?


    Why couldn¡¯t I watch my mouth? Why did I failed to watch my mouth? Why was I rude to her?


    Please god why am I what am I ?


    I deserve nothing but misery , I shouldnt have hurt my girl like that. It is my fault damn it! Kill me for my mouth.


    Please God forgive me!


    An hour later she came home


    Scarlet ; I am back!


    Pathum ; heyyy!! I am sorry sweetie for hurting you.


    Scarlet ; I¡¯m used to it. don¡¯t you worry!


    Pathum ; oh really so now you talking to me in a fancy tone huh. Fuck god and his everything. He be cursed!


    Ugh this is not the start I needed.


    Scarlet ;  watch your mouth, cause it will get you in trouble.


    Pathum ; watch your faith , cause it will get you nowhere.


    Scarlet; I am done talking to you, I don¡¯t understand whats wrong with you ? whats the matter?


    Pathum ; why couldn¡¯t you stay home for me? Oneday out from church or school? You never do. Why?


    Scarlet ; im sorry I am not the perfect girl for you.


    Pathum ; I am sorry that I am the rudest boy friend. I am such a shit! I mean it I am such a shit!


    Scarlet ; watch that language please.


    Pathum ; I am sorry I am such a bad person. I am sorry please go to sleep, I am such a horrible person, you deserve someone better.


    Scarlet; that¡¯s okay!


    That is not okay sweetie.


    Five minutes later she fell asleep. My innocent angel fell asleep . I feel so bad, she kneels before the lord and prays for me , prays for us and then she comes home to see a comfort all that she gets is discomfort .


    how terrible is it?


    How horrific can a human being possibly be? I  am such a bad person I really am , I need to find a way to control my anger or else I would end up causing more troubles.


    Imagine imagine if she hurt herself? What are you going to do then?


    I am sorry God for disrespecting you and hurting scarlet but please understand me too, there is something within me who does all these mad works , its like once I loose control over anger , anger does irreversible damage.


    But everyone thinks its me, scarlet had fallen asleep with tears ,so now her subconsicous mind thinks that it was me who hurt her but deep down reality is there is monster within me that caused the chaos , but unfortunately she is not going to see that. So she will register me as the bad person and my words a blunt liar!


    You cannot give plain excuses now. What is said is said, now suffer the consequences.


    Shit me!! I feel so horrible now, now that she is gone to sleep and me not getting the chance to apologise her. I should have talked to her better than that.


    Please God forgive me, I will watch my mouth!!